From Brian Lara to Sachin Tendulkar, here is a look at five batters with fastest  10000 Test runs. The list also features legendary players like Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara and Steve Smith.

From Brian Lara to Sachin Tendulkar, here is a look at five batters with fastest &nbsp;10000 Test runs. The list also features legendary players like Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara and Steve Smith.

From Brian Lara to Sachin Tendulkar, 5 batters fastest to 10000 Test runs

In the long history of Test cricket, scoring a century is one of the biggest achievements for a batter. While many players have reached this mark but there are only few who have done it regularly over many years and across different formats. Here’s a look at the top seven players with the most Test centuries. Most of these legends come from cricketing powerhouses like India, Australia and South Africa.

Sachin Tendulkar (India)

Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 51 centuries Sachin Tendulkar, known as the ‘Master Blaster’ holds the record for the most Test centuries (51) in Test cricket history. He played 200 Test matches from 1989 to 2013 and scored 15921 runs with an average of 53.78. His highest score was 248 not out.

Jacques Kallis (South Africa)

Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 45 centuries Jacques Kallis often called one of the best all-rounders in cricket has 45 Test hundreds under his belt. In 166 Test matches, he has scored 13,289 runs at an impressive average of 55.37. His top score was 224.

Ricky Ponting (Australia)

Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 41 centuries Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has scored 41 Test centuries in 168 matches between 1995 and 2012 and scored a total of 13378 runs with a highest score of 257. Ponting was a key player during Australia's most dominant years.

Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)

Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 38 centuries Kumar Sangakkara, the great left-hander from Sri Lanka has scored 38 centuries under his belt in just 134 Test matches. He scored 12400 runs with a top score of 319 and at an average of 57.40.&nbsp;

Joe Root (England)

Joe Root (England) – 36 centuries Joe Root, England’s leading run scorer in Tests in recent years has scored 36 Test hundreds. He has scored 13087 runs at an average of 50.92. Root is known for scoring high runs in all kinds of conditions and continues to be a key player for England batting lineup.

Steve Smith (Australia)

Steve Smith (Australia) – 36 centuries Steve Smith has also scored 36 Test centuries in 117 matches at an average of 56.55. He stands out for his unique batting style and amazing consistency. He is one of the best Test batters of modern times.

Rahul Dravid (India)

Rahul Dravid (India) – 36 centuries Rahul Dravid, often called ‘The Wall’ for his solid defense has scored 36 centuries in 164 Tests. He scored 13288 Test runs at an average of 52.31. Known for his patience and technique, Dravid has played many important innings in tough overseas conditions.

Here’s a look at the top seven players with the most Test centuries. Most of these legends come from cricketing powerhouses like India, Australia and South Africa.

In the long history of Test cricket, scoring a century is one of the biggest achievements for a batter. While many players have reached this mark but there are only few who have done it regularly over many years and across different formats. Here’s a look at the top seven players with the most Test centuries. Most of these legends come from cricketing powerhouses like India, Australia and South Africa.

Here’s a look at the top seven players with the most Test centuries. Most of these legends come from cricketing powerhouses like India, Australia and South Africa.

Joe Root to Sachin Tendulkar: 7 batters with most Test centuries

Former Australia captains Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting hold different opinions on Team India’s batting conundrum ahead of the England Tests, but have thrown their weight behind uncapped superstar ‘Sai Sudharsan’ to debut and rock in the UK. As the touring side prepares to begin a new life in Tests without stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and under new captain Shubman Gill, all focus is on left-handed batter Sudharsan and his potential exploits in challenging conditions.&nbsp;Besides expecting Sai to make his Test debut in the series opener in Leeds itself, Ponting wants him to open the innings with fellow leftie Yashasvi Jaiswal, with newly-appointed Test skipper Gill filling the number four slot, left behind by veteran Virat Kohli.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-ind-2025-if-any-country-can-do-it-quickly-india-can-cricket-great-ricky-ponting-rohit-sharma-virat-kohli-be-replaced-in-tests-1749294747247">Are Rohit and Kohli replaceable in Tests? Cricket great feels if only one team can do it quickly, it's…</a> &nbsp;Backing IPL 2025 highest run-getter Sudharsan, Ponting believes that Sai has the technique to be successful in England and already looks like a class player. He, however, pointed out that either KL Rahul or Karun Nair should take up the number three slot, with Gill batting in his new position. &nbsp;"I think (Sai) Sudarshan and (Yashasvi) Jaiswal will open the batting (in England) as Sudarshan just looks like a class player to me, and technically, I think he could do well at Test level," Ponting said on the ICC Review. "They'll have two pretty young opening batters, so they might look to go for someone that's got a bit more experience at No.3. &nbsp;"Whether that's KL (Rahul) or Karun (Nair) at No.3, and then Shubman might end up being that No.4 player, which will probably make life for him a little bit easier as a captain as well,” he added.<h2>Clarke’s take on Sai’s upcoming UK tour &nbsp;</h2>On the other hand, Ponting’s former teammate Michael Clarke calls Sai a superstar, urging the decision-makers to draft him into the playing XI for the Headingley Test starting June 20. Not only this, but Clarke even cleared what position the touted next-generation star must bat at.&nbsp; &nbsp;“To me, this kid is a superstar, Sai Sudharsan. I think he is a number three in Test cricket. I think he is probably going to open the batting in time in India’s T20I and ODI teams. He is in their Test squad. He gets his first opportunity in England,” Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast. &nbsp;“I think he can walk in straight to bat at number three. I think, technically, he’s very good, he’s got all the shots, and mentally, he’s ready. He really impressed me, and he’s a good-looking player as well,” Clarke continued. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Sai was part of the main squad that landed in the UK on Saturday.&nbsp;

ENG vs IND 2025: Clarke, Ponting differ on India’s batting conundrum but back superstar Sudharsan to debut in UK

Former Australia captains Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting hold different opinions on Team India’s batting conundrum ahead of the England Tests, but have thrown their weight behind uncapped superstar ‘Sai Sudharsan’ to debut and rock in the UK. As the touring side prepares to begin a new life in Tests without stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and under new captain Shubman Gill, all focus is on left-handed batter Sudharsan and his potential exploits in challenging conditions. Besides expecting Sai to make his Test debut in the series opener in Leeds itself, Ponting wants him to open the innings with fellow leftie Yashasvi Jaiswal, with newly-appointed Test skipper Gill filling the number four slot, left behind by veteran Virat Kohli. Also read | Are Rohit and Kohli replaceable in Tests? Cricket great feels if only one team can do it quickly, it's… Backing IPL 2025 highest run-getter Sudharsan, Ponting believes that Sai has the technique to be successful in England and already looks like a class player. He, however, pointed out that either KL Rahul or Karun Nair should take up the number three slot, with Gill batting in his new position. "I think (Sai) Sudarshan and (Yashasvi) Jaiswal will open the batting (in England) as Sudarshan just looks like a class player to me, and technically, I think he could do well at Test level," Ponting said on the ICC Review. "They'll have two pretty young opening batters, so they might look to go for someone that's got a bit more experience at No.3. "Whether that's KL (Rahul) or Karun (Nair) at No.3, and then Shubman might end up being that No.4 player, which will probably make life for him a little bit easier as a captain as well,” he added. Clarke’s take on Sai’s upcoming UK tour On the other hand, Ponting’s former teammate Michael Clarke calls Sai a superstar, urging the decision-makers to draft him into the playing XI for the Headingley Test starting June 20. Not only this, but Clarke even cleared what position the touted next-generation star must bat at. “To me, this kid is a superstar, Sai Sudharsan. I think he is a number three in Test cricket. I think he is probably going to open the batting in time in India’s T20I and ODI teams. He is in their Test squad. He gets his first opportunity in England,” Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast. “I think he can walk in straight to bat at number three. I think, technically, he’s very good, he’s got all the shots, and mentally, he’s ready. He really impressed me, and he’s a good-looking player as well,” Clarke continued. Meanwhile, Sai was part of the main squad that landed in the UK on Saturday.

As the touring side prepares to begin a new life in Tests without stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and under new captain Shubman Gill, all focus is on left-handed batter Sudharsan and his potential exploits in challenging conditions.

ENG vs IND 2025: Clarke, Ponting differ on India’s batting conundrum but back 'superstar' Sudharsan to debut in UK

It’s never easy to replace great players in a team, regardless of the sport, and former Australia captain and cricket giant Ricky Ponting feels the same. Speaking on whether India can replace their two stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, in the Test side following their shock retirements, Ponting said even the best of the teams have struggled during a transition period; however, if one cricket team can do it quickly, it’s only India, further explaining how.&nbsp;India’s talent depth is enormous; even the outsiders believe so. Having been associated with the country’s cash-rich IPL since its inception in different capacities, Ponting explains how quickly they can replace talent with a better one waiting in the wings. However, he stays true to his words on how challenging it is for any cricket side to fill the voids left by the players of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s magnitude.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-ind-2025-i-think-leadership-sits-well-with-him-ricky-ponting-reviews-shubman-gill-appointment-as-india-test-captain-1749291686559">‘I think leadership sits well with him,’ Ponting reviews Shubman Gill’s appointment as India Test captain</a> &nbsp;"It's always very hard to replace players like that that have been around for so long, that have played that much Test cricket. But if any country can do it and do it quickly, India can because of the amount of young talent that they have," Ponting said while speaking on the ICC Review. &nbsp;"I've seen it first hand for 10 years now around the IPL, and we've seen the emergence of Jaiswal and these sort of guys that have come into international cricket with India and done really well pretty much straight away,” he continued.&nbsp; &nbsp;Although he points out that India can replace skill with skill in that playing XI, compensating for the loss of experience with their departure would be challenging for them. He, however, also noted that should any team do it quickly, it’s the Indian Cricket Team. &nbsp;"The skill side of it's one thing to replace, and I think India will replace the skill side of it easily enough, but the experience is the big thing that's going to be missing for them. So now, even with a young captain with Shubman Gill, they'll still have some experience around with KL, Rahul and Bumrah and these sorts of guys. &nbsp;"But, I think if you look at a rebuilding sort of phase, I think India can cope with it better than most other teams,” Ponting continued. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Shubman Gill-led Indian Team will begin their away tour of England with the first of the five Tests at Leeds starting June 20.&nbsp;

‘If any country can do it quickly, India can,’ cricket great on if Rohit and Kohli be replaced in Tests

It’s never easy to replace great players in a team, regardless of the sport, and former Australia captain and cricket giant Ricky Ponting feels the same. Speaking on whether India can replace their two stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, in the Test side following their shock retirements, Ponting said even the best of the teams have struggled during a transition period; however, if one cricket team can do it quickly, it’s only India, further explaining how. India’s talent depth is enormous; even the outsiders believe so. Having been associated with the country’s cash-rich IPL since its inception in different capacities, Ponting explains how quickly they can replace talent with a better one waiting in the wings. However, he stays true to his words on how challenging it is for any cricket side to fill the voids left by the players of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s magnitude. Also read | ‘I think leadership sits well with him,’ Ponting reviews Shubman Gill’s appointment as India Test captain "It's always very hard to replace players like that that have been around for so long, that have played that much Test cricket. But if any country can do it and do it quickly, India can because of the amount of young talent that they have," Ponting said while speaking on the ICC Review. "I've seen it first hand for 10 years now around the IPL, and we've seen the emergence of Jaiswal and these sort of guys that have come into international cricket with India and done really well pretty much straight away,” he continued. Although he points out that India can replace skill with skill in that playing XI, compensating for the loss of experience with their departure would be challenging for them. He, however, also noted that should any team do it quickly, it’s the Indian Cricket Team. "The skill side of it's one thing to replace, and I think India will replace the skill side of it easily enough, but the experience is the big thing that's going to be missing for them. So now, even with a young captain with Shubman Gill, they'll still have some experience around with KL, Rahul and Bumrah and these sorts of guys. "But, I think if you look at a rebuilding sort of phase, I think India can cope with it better than most other teams,” Ponting continued. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill-led Indian Team will begin their away tour of England with the first of the five Tests at Leeds starting June 20.

Having been associated with the country’s cash-rich IPL since its inception in different capacities, Ponting explains how quickly they can replace talent with a better one waiting in the wings.

Are Rohit and Kohli replaceable in Tests? Cricket great feels if only one team can do it quickly, it's...

Former Australia great Ricky Ponting reviews BCCI’s appointment of Shubman Gill as the new Test captain, replacing now-retired opener Rohit Sharma. Ponting, perhaps the most successful skipper of his time, having won two World Cups and as many Champions Trophy titles besides winning countless crucial tournaments all over, feels Gill has shown enough leadership skills during his time as the Gujarat Titans skipper in IPL to deserve his promotion in the Test side.&nbsp;Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee handpicked Gill to lead India’s new Test side ahead of ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah, who doesn’t remain a sure starter in all Tests due to his workload management. Speaking on the same lines, Ponting said it’s the right move to hand over the baton to Gill instead of Bumrah, as a team cannot have a captain coming in and missing games for whatever reason.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-bengaluru-stampede-top-kca-officials-take-moral-responsibility-submit-resignations-1749281713761">Bengaluru stampede: Top KSCA officials take moral responsibility, submit resignations</a> &nbsp;"I actually think it's the right move," Ponting said while speaking on The ICC Review. "I know there's a lot of other people out there, pundits out there saying they can't understand why it wasn't Bumrah and why they have gone to Shubman, but I think it's pretty simple.” &nbsp;Jasprit Bumrah has missed plenty of cricket action this year, including the first showpiece event in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy to his persistent back injury. His injury woes forced the selectors to look beyond him as the captaincy option, despite him leading India to its only win on their past away tour Down Under. Even considering his game awareness, the selectors had to let go of this option in picking Rohit’s successor in Tests. &nbsp;"Bumrah's injuries are holding him back a bit in the last couple of years, and you don't want that with a captain. You can't have a captain coming in and missing games here and there, so I think it's I think it's the right decision,” Ponting continued. "Now that they've made it, it's one they've got to stick with and give him a good crack at it for, for a long period of time.”<h2>Ponting pinpoints captain’s role in the team &nbsp;</h2>Having led by example during his time, Ponting understands what the primary roles of a team captain are, and for a batter, scoring runs all the time leads the chart.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Even just looking back at the way he's handled this current GT (Gujarat Titans) team through this IPL, I think leadership sits really well with him. &nbsp;"And the important thing for me with leadership, as well as if you're a batter and you're a captain, you have to be scoring runs. And Shubman is doing that in IPL, and I think the timing is right, and I think you'll have a good captain who’ll make a lot of Test runs going forward,” Ponting noted.&nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile, Shubman Gill will lead the new-look Indian Team in the five-match Test series against England, starting June 20 in Leeds.&nbsp;

‘I think leadership sits well with him,’ Ponting reviews Shubman Gill’s appointment as India Test captain

Former Australia great Ricky Ponting reviews BCCI’s appointment of Shubman Gill as the new Test captain, replacing now-retired opener Rohit Sharma. Ponting, perhaps the most successful skipper of his time, having won two World Cups and as many Champions Trophy titles besides winning countless crucial tournaments all over, feels Gill has shown enough leadership skills during his time as the Gujarat Titans skipper in IPL to deserve his promotion in the Test side. Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee handpicked Gill to lead India’s new Test side ahead of ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah, who doesn’t remain a sure starter in all Tests due to his workload management. Speaking on the same lines, Ponting said it’s the right move to hand over the baton to Gill instead of Bumrah, as a team cannot have a captain coming in and missing games for whatever reason. Also read | Bengaluru stampede: Top KSCA officials take moral responsibility, submit resignations "I actually think it's the right move," Ponting said while speaking on The ICC Review. "I know there's a lot of other people out there, pundits out there saying they can't understand why it wasn't Bumrah and why they have gone to Shubman, but I think it's pretty simple.” Jasprit Bumrah has missed plenty of cricket action this year, including the first showpiece event in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy to his persistent back injury. His injury woes forced the selectors to look beyond him as the captaincy option, despite him leading India to its only win on their past away tour Down Under. Even considering his game awareness, the selectors had to let go of this option in picking Rohit’s successor in Tests. "Bumrah's injuries are holding him back a bit in the last couple of years, and you don't want that with a captain. You can't have a captain coming in and missing games here and there, so I think it's I think it's the right decision,” Ponting continued. "Now that they've made it, it's one they've got to stick with and give him a good crack at it for, for a long period of time.” Ponting pinpoints captain’s role in the team Having led by example during his time, Ponting understands what the primary roles of a team captain are, and for a batter, scoring runs all the time leads the chart. "Even just looking back at the way he's handled this current GT (Gujarat Titans) team through this IPL, I think leadership sits really well with him. "And the important thing for me with leadership, as well as if you're a batter and you're a captain, you have to be scoring runs. And Shubman is doing that in IPL, and I think the timing is right, and I think you'll have a good captain who’ll make a lot of Test runs going forward,” Ponting noted. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill will lead the new-look Indian Team in the five-match Test series against England, starting June 20 in Leeds.

Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee handpicked Gill to lead India’s new Test side ahead of ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah, who doesn’t remain a sure starter in all Tests due to his workload management.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) head coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting">Ricky Ponting</a> was about to take off for home when the ceasefire between India and Pakistan came into force.
Despite that, the former Australian captain had the option to fly back to Australia but he chose not to, making a last-minute disembarkation from the Qantas plane packed with anxious passengers.
Ponting stayed back in Delhi but he also ensured that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/punjab-kings">PBKS</a>' foreign players, who were considering the possibility of a full scale war between two nuclear-armed countries, were convinced about returning to India with the event likely to resume later in the week.
"It shows Ponting's character. Only he could have pulled that off. Not only he voluntarily decided to stay back, he gave a motivational talk to the foreign players who had left for their respective destinations but now will be joining the team at the earliest," Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon was quoted saying to PTI.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/archery-world-cup-2025-india-bags-seven-medals-bronze-for-deepika-kumari-parth-salunkhe-9059029">Archery World Cup 2025: India bags seven medals; bronze for Deepika Kumari &amp; Parth Salunkhe</a>
Considering the heightened security at the Delhi Airport, the franchise officials had to make plenty of phone calls to ensure Ponting's luggage was off-loaded from the plane.
The anxious batch of players, who had to make a nervous road/train journey from Dharamsala to Delhi following the abandonment of the IPL game on May 8, included Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis and Xavier Bartlett (all from Australia).
<h2>Jansen, Omarzai in Dubai</h2>
South Africa's Marco Jansen and Afghanistan's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/azmatullah-omarzai" rel="dofollow">Azmatullah Omarzai</a> have camped themselves in Dubai which is a short flight from India.
The foreign players are not used to something like this (war like situation). So, it was natural for them to feel anxious. Led by Stoinis, they all wanted to leave at the earliest and understandably so. But Ponting has convinced them to come back post ceasefire which I think is remarkable," said a source in the team.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; With the announcement of IPL resumption imminent, Punjab find themselves well-placed with majority of their star Indian and foreign players already in the country and on standby.&nbsp;With Ponting galvanising the team from a nervous situation, it could motivate the squad to do something special in this IPL.&nbsp;
In the first season of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer">Shreyas Iyer</a> and Ricky Ponting era, Punjab stand on the cusp of its first play-off berth since 2014. The other stranded team in Dharamsala was Delhi Capitals after the game was abandoned after Punjab Kings raced to 122/1 in 10.1 overs.&nbsp;The match will resume from that position at a yet to be decided venue and date.

India News, Sports: Amid heightened security at Delhi Airport, the team officials had to make several phone calls to ensure Ponting's luggage was off-loaded from plane

Punjab Kings (PBKS) head coach Ricky Ponting was about to take off for home when the ceasefire between India and Pakistan came into force. Despite that, the former Australian captain had the option to fly back to Australia but he chose not to, making a last-minute disembarkation from the Qantas plane packed with anxious passengers. Ponting stayed back in Delhi but he also ensured that the PBKS' foreign players, who were considering the possibility of a full scale war between two nuclear-armed countries, were convinced about returning to India with the event likely to resume later in the week. "It shows Ponting's character. Only he could have pulled that off. Not only he voluntarily decided to stay back, he gave a motivational talk to the foreign players who had left for their respective destinations but now will be joining the team at the earliest," Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon was quoted saying to PTI. Also Read: Archery World Cup 2025: India bags seven medals; bronze for Deepika Kumari & Parth Salunkhe Considering the heightened security at the Delhi Airport, the franchise officials had to make plenty of phone calls to ensure Ponting's luggage was off-loaded from the plane. The anxious batch of players, who had to make a nervous road/train journey from Dharamsala to Delhi following the abandonment of the IPL game on May 8, included Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis and Xavier Bartlett (all from Australia). Jansen, Omarzai in Dubai South Africa's Marco Jansen and Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai have camped themselves in Dubai which is a short flight from India. The foreign players are not used to something like this (war like situation). So, it was natural for them to feel anxious. Led by Stoinis, they all wanted to leave at the earliest and understandably so. But Ponting has convinced them to come back post ceasefire which I think is remarkable," said a source in the team. With the announcement of IPL resumption imminent, Punjab find themselves well-placed with majority of their star Indian and foreign players already in the country and on standby. With Ponting galvanising the team from a nervous situation, it could motivate the squad to do something special in this IPL. In the first season of Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting era, Punjab stand on the cusp of its first play-off berth since 2014. The other stranded team in Dharamsala was Delhi Capitals after the game was abandoned after Punjab Kings raced to 122/1 in 10.1 overs. The match will resume from that position at a yet to be decided venue and date.

India-Pak news | Show of faith: Punjab Kings coach Ricky Ponting deboards from plane for Oz, asks overseas IPL players to come back to India

Mitchell Owen, the 23-year-old Australian opener, has replaced injured all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/glenn-maxwell" rel="dofollow">Glenn Maxwell</a> at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/punjab-kings" rel="dofollow">Punjab Kings (PBKS)</a> for the remainder of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a>. The right-handed batter emerged as the breakthrough star for his Big Bash League (BBL) franchise, Hobart Hurricanes, in the past season, amassing 452 runs, including his maiden hundred in the final that helped them lift their first title. However, there is a catch here as Owen needs to abide by his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/psl" rel="dofollow">Pakistan Super League (PSL)</a> commitment before joining PBKS for his maiden IPL stint for INR 3 crore.
The PSL 2025 runs till May 18, and considering Owen&rsquo;s team, Peshawar Zalmi, reaches the final, the rookie batter can leave only after that. Punjab Kings&rsquo; group-stage matches end on May 16, so should Owen get free after the PSL final, he will only be available for the IPL playoffs, should PBKS make it, which begins on May 20. As things stand, Zalmi is fifth on the PSL 2025 points table, with three matches remaining.
<h2>Who is Mitchell Owen?</h2>
Mitchell Owen is a top-order batter from Tasmania, a state that produced several cricketing legends, including former Australia great and current PBKS&nbsp;head coach Ricky Ponting.&nbsp;
Coming off as a regular opener in BBL 2024/25, Owen made the tournament about himself after becoming the highest run-scorer overall that season. He played a starring role in the Hurricanes&rsquo; maiden title-winning run. In the BBL final, he completed a 39-ball hundred, scoring 108 off 42 balls, including 11 sixes and six fours, and winning the Player-of-the-match award.&nbsp;
Owen averaged 45.20 and had a staggering strike rate of 203.60. Since his BBL final heroics, he earned his maiden overseas T20 contract with Paarl Royals in the SA20 the past season, later playing in his second foreign league in the PSL. Ironically, Ponting was the Hurricanes&rsquo; head of strategy in the BBL.
Meanwhile, Owen was Corbin Bosch&rsquo;s replacement at the PSL franchise after the South African seamer signed up for Mumbai Indians in the IPL as an injury replacement for his national teammate Lizaad Williams.&nbsp;
For not abiding by his PSL commitments, Bosch even issued an apology.
"I deeply regret my decision to withdraw from the PSL and offer my sincere apologies to the people of Pakistan, the fans of Peshawar Zalmi, and the wider cricket community," Bosch said in a statement released by the PCB at the time.
In IPL 2025, Punjab Kings is fifth on the points table, with four matches remaining.&nbsp;

Mitchell Owen is a top-order batter from Tasmania, a state that produced several cricketing legends, including current PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting. Sports, Cricket

Mitchell Owen, the 23-year-old Australian opener, has replaced injured all-rounder Glenn Maxwell at Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the remainder of IPL 2025. The right-handed batter emerged as the breakthrough star for his Big Bash League (BBL) franchise, Hobart Hurricanes, in the past season, amassing 452 runs, including his maiden hundred in the final that helped them lift their first title. However, there is a catch here as Owen needs to abide by his Pakistan Super League (PSL) commitment before joining PBKS for his maiden IPL stint for INR 3 crore. The PSL 2025 runs till May 18, and considering Owen’s team, Peshawar Zalmi, reaches the final, the rookie batter can leave only after that. Punjab Kings’ group-stage matches end on May 16, so should Owen get free after the PSL final, he will only be available for the IPL playoffs, should PBKS make it, which begins on May 20. As things stand, Zalmi is fifth on the PSL 2025 points table, with three matches remaining. Who is Mitchell Owen? Mitchell Owen is a top-order batter from Tasmania, a state that produced several cricketing legends, including former Australia great and current PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting. Coming off as a regular opener in BBL 2024/25, Owen made the tournament about himself after becoming the highest run-scorer overall that season. He played a starring role in the Hurricanes’ maiden title-winning run. In the BBL final, he completed a 39-ball hundred, scoring 108 off 42 balls, including 11 sixes and six fours, and winning the Player-of-the-match award. Owen averaged 45.20 and had a staggering strike rate of 203.60. Since his BBL final heroics, he earned his maiden overseas T20 contract with Paarl Royals in the SA20 the past season, later playing in his second foreign league in the PSL. Ironically, Ponting was the Hurricanes’ head of strategy in the BBL. Meanwhile, Owen was Corbin Bosch’s replacement at the PSL franchise after the South African seamer signed up for Mumbai Indians in the IPL as an injury replacement for his national teammate Lizaad Williams. For not abiding by his PSL commitments, Bosch even issued an apology. "I deeply regret my decision to withdraw from the PSL and offer my sincere apologies to the people of Pakistan, the fans of Peshawar Zalmi, and the wider cricket community," Bosch said in a statement released by the PCB at the time. In IPL 2025, Punjab Kings is fifth on the points table, with four matches remaining.

IPL 2025: Who is 23-year-old Mitchell Owen? Glenn Maxwell’s replacement at PBKS for remainder of season

A year after leading <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=kolkata+knight+riders" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Kolkata Knight Riders </a>(KKR) to their third IPL title, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=kolkata+knight+riders" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Punjab Kings</a> (PBKS) skipper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=shreyas+iyer" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Shreyas Iyer </a>is now earning praise from head coach Ricky Ponting for his calmness, maturity, and improved game awareness. The duo, who previously worked together at Delhi Capitals (DC), have reunited at PBKS and are aiming for another playoffs spot this season.
Speaking after Punjab's win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK)&nbsp; on Wednesday (Apr 30) at Chepauk, Ponting highlighted Iyer&rsquo;s evolution. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a lot more confident now. That belief comes with experience,&rdquo; Ponting said. &ldquo;He understands the game better than ever and is calm in pressure situations, a key trait in T20s.&rdquo;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pahalgam-terror-attack-how-much-lower-will-you-go-dhawan-slams-pakistan-shahid-afridi-for-rhetorical-anti-indian-army-comments-9014081" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Pahalgam terror attack | 'How much lower will you go:' Dhawan slams Shahid Afridi for 'pointless' anti-Indian Army comments</a>
<h2>Iyer plans wicket of MS Dhoni</h2>
That calmness was seen when Iyer brought Yuzvendra Chahal to bowl at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=ms+dhoni" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">MS Dhoni</a>, who doesn&rsquo;t have a great record against leg-spinners in the IPL. In the 19th over of CSK&rsquo;s innings, Dhoni hit Chahal for a six over long-on, but on the very next ball, he mistimed a shot and was caught at long-off for 11. Chahal then capitalised on Dhoni's wicket, completing a hat-trick and turning the game in Punjab's favour.
Iyer also led from the front with the bat, scoring a captain&rsquo;s knock of 72 off 41 balls. He picked up pace from 28 off 23 to reach his half-century in just 32 balls. Ponting was full of praise: &ldquo;He&rsquo;s mature, he communicates well with the team, and everyone enjoys working with him. He wanted to finish the game himself, but it was still a top innings.&rdquo;
Iyer has also worked on a long-time weakness against the short ball. Once uncomfortable, he now confidently pulls and hooks. Ponting credited his self-made improvement: &ldquo;He&rsquo;s opened up his stance, sees the ball better, and is accessing those deliveries more easily. It&rsquo;s all his own work.&rdquo;
Former India coach Ravi Shastri also noticed the change, pointing out Iyer&rsquo;s upright stance and better back-and-across movement, which have helped expand his shot range.
With three games left in Dharamsala, a venue where PBKS haven&rsquo;t won in two seasons, Ponting remains hopeful. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s our home ground. We had a good pre-season camp there. I think we&rsquo;ll do well.&rdquo;
PBKS, currently second on the points table, are set to face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Mumbai Indians (MI) in Dharamsala on 04th, 08th and 11th May respectively. Shreyas and his team will look to win these games and aim for a top-two finish in the IPL 2025 playoffs.

After Punjab's win over CSK on Wednesday (Apr 30), Shreyas Iyer earned praise from Ricky Ponting for his calm captaincy in IPL 2025. Cricket Sports

A year after leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL title, Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper Shreyas Iyer is now earning praise from head coach Ricky Ponting for his calmness, maturity, and improved game awareness. The duo, who previously worked together at Delhi Capitals (DC), have reunited at PBKS and are aiming for another playoffs spot this season. Speaking after Punjab's win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Wednesday (Apr 30) at Chepauk, Ponting highlighted Iyer’s evolution. “He’s a lot more confident now. That belief comes with experience,” Ponting said. “He understands the game better than ever and is calm in pressure situations, a key trait in T20s.” Also Read: Pahalgam terror attack | 'How much lower will you go:' Dhawan slams Shahid Afridi for 'pointless' anti-Indian Army comments Iyer plans wicket of MS Dhoni That calmness was seen when Iyer brought Yuzvendra Chahal to bowl at MS Dhoni, who doesn’t have a great record against leg-spinners in the IPL. In the 19th over of CSK’s innings, Dhoni hit Chahal for a six over long-on, but on the very next ball, he mistimed a shot and was caught at long-off for 11. Chahal then capitalised on Dhoni's wicket, completing a hat-trick and turning the game in Punjab's favour. Iyer also led from the front with the bat, scoring a captain’s knock of 72 off 41 balls. He picked up pace from 28 off 23 to reach his half-century in just 32 balls. Ponting was full of praise: “He’s mature, he communicates well with the team, and everyone enjoys working with him. He wanted to finish the game himself, but it was still a top innings.” Iyer has also worked on a long-time weakness against the short ball. Once uncomfortable, he now confidently pulls and hooks. Ponting credited his self-made improvement: “He’s opened up his stance, sees the ball better, and is accessing those deliveries more easily. It’s all his own work.” Former India coach Ravi Shastri also noticed the change, pointing out Iyer’s upright stance and better back-and-across movement, which have helped expand his shot range. With three games left in Dharamsala, a venue where PBKS haven’t won in two seasons, Ponting remains hopeful. “It’s our home ground. We had a good pre-season camp there. I think we’ll do well.” PBKS, currently second on the points table, are set to face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Mumbai Indians (MI) in Dharamsala on 04th, 08th and 11th May respectively. Shreyas and his team will look to win these games and aim for a top-two finish in the IPL 2025 playoffs.

IPL 2025: Ricky Ponting praises Shreyas Iyer's calm captaincy and batting technique

As Punjab Kings continue their battle for a playoff spot in ongoing IPL 2025, Punjab Kings' opener <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/prabhsimran-singh">Prabhsimran Singh</a> reflected on a season full of promise. In his seventh year with the franchise, the 24-year-old has emerged as a key player&mdash;both on the field and in the dressing room. Speaking exclusively on Star Sports Press Room with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/punjab-kings">Punjab Kings</a> for Race To Playoffs, Prabhsimran Singh&nbsp;shared insights on his journey, the team's mindset, and why he believes this could finally be their breakthrough year.
"For over a decade, Punjab Kings fans have carried great hope and passion, and I deeply feel that support," said Prabhsimran. "Personally, it's been seven years with Punjab Kings, and though I didn&rsquo;t play regularly in the initial seasons, the franchise's faith in me has been a big motivation," he added.
"This season, there&rsquo;s a different energy in the camp," he explained. "We are playing bold, fearless cricket and believe we are dominating games more often than not."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nat-sciver-brunt-appointed-england-womens-captain-across-all-formats-9015054">Nat Sciver-Brunt appointed England women's captain across all formats</a>
While weather disruptions have complicated the playoff equation, the team&rsquo;s belief hasn&rsquo;t wavered. &ldquo;Even though rain affected our last match, we are still confident about playoffs qualification&mdash;and from there, the ultimate goal is lifting the trophy.&rdquo;
<h2 data-start="1345" data-end="1586">'Working with Ponting has been a huge boost'</h2>
Much of that belief stems from the leadership of head coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting">Ricky Ponting</a>. For Prabhsimran, who scored a century against a then Ponting-coached Delhi side, the relationship has been transformative.
&ldquo;Working with Ricky Ponting has been a huge boost,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;His belief in me, especially after that century, meant a lot. He has helped refine my approach, particularly encouraging calculated aggression and better shot selection during the powerplay.&rdquo;
He has also found a strong partner at the top in Priyansh Arya.&nbsp;&ldquo;Batting with Priyansh Arya has been a joy. We're both young and uncapped, learning together and growing match by match.&rdquo;
That growth is supported by a dressing room culture that&rsquo;s noticeably positive. &ldquo;The environment under this coaching and leadership group is pressure-free. Everyone backs each other, celebrates success, and lifts one another on bad days.&rdquo;
That support has helped Prabhsimran develop mentally too. A few seasons ago, not getting consistent chances was tough&mdash;but speaking to legends of the game changed his perspective.
&ldquo;Mentally, I&rsquo;ve grown stronger,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Talking to legends like Sachin Tendulkar helped me during tough phases when I wasn&rsquo;t getting games. His advice to focus on learning instead of worrying about the bench changed everything.&rdquo;
Another boost this year has come from the Impact Player rule, which has added tactical depth and opened doors for players like him.&nbsp;&ldquo;Yes, the Impact Player rule has given many domestic players the chance to shine in pressure situations. That&rsquo;s been one of the best parts of this season&mdash;the rise of Indian youngsters.&rdquo;
Of course, the bigger picture is always on the team&rsquo;s mind. Punjab Kings haven&rsquo;t reached the playoffs since 2014&mdash;a drought that weighs on fans and players alike.
&ldquo;The long wait isn&rsquo;t lost on us,&rdquo; he admits. &ldquo;We talk about it, but instead of pressure, it fuels our determination. We're taking things match by match, staying grounded and focused on playing our best cricket," he signed off.

India News, Sports: Punjab Kings are currently fifth in the IPL points table, having won five matches out of the nine played. They next face CSK on Wednesday (April 30)

As Punjab Kings continue their battle for a playoff spot in ongoing IPL 2025, Punjab Kings' opener Prabhsimran Singh reflected on a season full of promise. In his seventh year with the franchise, the 24-year-old has emerged as a key player—both on the field and in the dressing room. Speaking exclusively on Star Sports Press Room with Punjab Kings for Race To Playoffs, Prabhsimran Singh shared insights on his journey, the team's mindset, and why he believes this could finally be their breakthrough year. "For over a decade, Punjab Kings fans have carried great hope and passion, and I deeply feel that support," said Prabhsimran. "Personally, it's been seven years with Punjab Kings, and though I didn’t play regularly in the initial seasons, the franchise's faith in me has been a big motivation," he added. "This season, there’s a different energy in the camp," he explained. "We are playing bold, fearless cricket and believe we are dominating games more often than not." Also Read: Nat Sciver-Brunt appointed England women's captain across all formats While weather disruptions have complicated the playoff equation, the team’s belief hasn’t wavered. “Even though rain affected our last match, we are still confident about playoffs qualification—and from there, the ultimate goal is lifting the trophy.” 'Working with Ponting has been a huge boost' Much of that belief stems from the leadership of head coach Ricky Ponting. For Prabhsimran, who scored a century against a then Ponting-coached Delhi side, the relationship has been transformative. “Working with Ricky Ponting has been a huge boost,” he said. “His belief in me, especially after that century, meant a lot. He has helped refine my approach, particularly encouraging calculated aggression and better shot selection during the powerplay.” He has also found a strong partner at the top in Priyansh Arya. “Batting with Priyansh Arya has been a joy. We're both young and uncapped, learning together and growing match by match.” That growth is supported by a dressing room culture that’s noticeably positive. “The environment under this coaching and leadership group is pressure-free. Everyone backs each other, celebrates success, and lifts one another on bad days.” That support has helped Prabhsimran develop mentally too. A few seasons ago, not getting consistent chances was tough—but speaking to legends of the game changed his perspective. “Mentally, I’ve grown stronger,” he says. “Talking to legends like Sachin Tendulkar helped me during tough phases when I wasn’t getting games. His advice to focus on learning instead of worrying about the bench changed everything.” Another boost this year has come from the Impact Player rule, which has added tactical depth and opened doors for players like him. “Yes, the Impact Player rule has given many domestic players the chance to shine in pressure situations. That’s been one of the best parts of this season—the rise of Indian youngsters.” Of course, the bigger picture is always on the team’s mind. Punjab Kings haven’t reached the playoffs since 2014—a drought that weighs on fans and players alike. “The long wait isn’t lost on us,” he admits. “We talk about it, but instead of pressure, it fuels our determination. We're taking things match by match, staying grounded and focused on playing our best cricket," he signed off.

IPL 2025: 'We believe this could be our year', says PBKS' Prabhsimran Singh

Punjab Kings coach Ricky Ponting referred the stunning win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2025 on Tuesday (Apr 15) as the best of his career. PBKS were given no chance after folding out for 111 but they managed to defend that total - three days after they failed to secure a win despite posting 245 on the board.
"I couldn't have been prouder of us in the second half, the batting was poor, but if we had gone down in a close one, I thought this was a season defining moment. I reckon at the half way mark there weren't too many people around the world who would have defended that. That might just be about the best win I've ever had as coach," Ponting said at the post-match presentation.
Also Read -&nbsp;<a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympics/cricket-la-2028-games-ioc-reveals-venue-for-crickets-olympics-return-8966048" aria-label="LA 2028 Games: IOC reveals venue for cricket&rsquo;s Olympics return">LA 2028 Games: IOC reveals venue for cricket&rsquo;s Olympics return</a>
The architect of the win was spinner Yuzvendra Chahal who returned with the figures of 4/28 in four overs including his 16-run last over of the quota. Ponting revealed that he had undergone fitness test before coming into the game and he was sensational.
"How about Chahal tonight? He actually had a fitness test before the game tonight, I asked him if he was okay, he said he was ready to go," Ponting revealed.&nbsp;
KKR were in cruise control mode at 62/2 in a chase of 112 but then Rahane was dismissed and the floodgates opened. After Chahal sent back Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Maxwell removed Venkatesh Iyer and KKR were suddenly 74/5.
In the next over, Chahal removed Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh on two consecutive balls to break the chase open. Marco Jansen removed Harshit Rana in the next over before returning to dismiss Andre Russell as the last wicket.
The 16-run win by PBKS came in an IPL record - smallest total defended and with that the winning team now sits on fourth place with four wins and eight points from six games.

The architect of the win was spinner Yuzvendra Chahal who returned with the figures of 4/28 in four overs including his 16-run last over of the quota. Cricket Sports

Punjab Kings coach Ricky Ponting referred the stunning win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2025 on Tuesday (Apr 15) as the best of his career. PBKS were given no chance after folding out for 111 but they managed to defend that total - three days after they failed to secure a win despite posting 245 on the board. "I couldn't have been prouder of us in the second half, the batting was poor, but if we had gone down in a close one, I thought this was a season defining moment. I reckon at the half way mark there weren't too many people around the world who would have defended that. That might just be about the best win I've ever had as coach," Ponting said at the post-match presentation. Also Read - LA 2028 Games: IOC reveals venue for cricket’s Olympics return The architect of the win was spinner Yuzvendra Chahal who returned with the figures of 4/28 in four overs including his 16-run last over of the quota. Ponting revealed that he had undergone fitness test before coming into the game and he was sensational. "How about Chahal tonight? He actually had a fitness test before the game tonight, I asked him if he was okay, he said he was ready to go," Ponting revealed. KKR were in cruise control mode at 62/2 in a chase of 112 but then Rahane was dismissed and the floodgates opened. After Chahal sent back Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Maxwell removed Venkatesh Iyer and KKR were suddenly 74/5. In the next over, Chahal removed Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh on two consecutive balls to break the chase open. Marco Jansen removed Harshit Rana in the next over before returning to dismiss Andre Russell as the last wicket. The 16-run win by PBKS came in an IPL record - smallest total defended and with that the winning team now sits on fourth place with four wins and eight points from six games.

IPL 2025 | Chahal took fitness test before match, reveals coach Ponting after PBKS stun KKR

In the world of fast-paced T20 cricket, where chaos often rules,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/xavier-bartlett" rel="dofollow">Xavier Bartlett</a> brings a calm confidence that&rsquo;s impossible to ignore. The young Australian pacer, known for his intelligent variations and quiet intensity, has made a solid impression in his maiden IPL stint with Punjab Kings. From lighting up Australia&rsquo;s domestic circuit to now sharing the dressing room with global stars, Bartlett&rsquo;s journey is one of steady growth, quiet ambition, and relentless hard work.
Bartlett&rsquo;s rise in Australian domestic cricket has been nothing short of impressive. A consistent performer for Queensland and the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League, he has earned a reputation as a clever fast bowler with a strong tactical mind. His control, composure under pressure, and ability to adapt to different situations stood out early on, making him a highly anticipated pick for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a>.
Now wearing the Punjab Kings jersey in the world&rsquo;s most glamorous cricket league, Bartlett finds himself surrounded by world-class talent and in the spotlight like never before.
<h2>Settling into IPL</h2>
Speaking about his transition into the IPL, Bartlett shared, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s been an amazing experience so far&hellip; the atmosphere in the last couple of games has been electric.&rdquo; The chance to rub shoulders with some of the best players in the world and learn from them has been a key part of his development, and Bartlett is soaking in every bit of it.
He&rsquo;s already working on fine-tuning his skill set for Indian conditions, especially focusing on slower balls and smarter variations on smaller grounds. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s so much research and data available here, and everyone&rsquo;s so good. You really have to stay one step ahead,&rdquo; he added.
One of the standout aspects of Bartlett&rsquo;s IPL journey so far has been the team environment. &ldquo;Everyone gets on so well&mdash;it&rsquo;s like one big family here in Punjab,&rdquo; he said, with genuine warmth. Whether it&rsquo;s seasoned veterans like <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/arshdeep-singh">Arshdeep Singh</a>, Yuzvendra Chahal or rising stars like Suryansh Shedge, Bartlett is learning from everyone around him.
His praise for Arshdeep&rsquo;s work ethic was telling: &ldquo;He&rsquo;s one of the hardest trainers I&rsquo;ve ever seen&hellip; he expects the highest of himself.&rdquo; The pacer also highlighted the depth of local talent in the squad and how refreshing it is to see young Indian players stepping up when needed.
<h2>Learning from legends</h2>
Punjab Kings have no shortage of international pedigree in their coaching staff either. With <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting">Ricky Ponting</a> at the helm as head coach, Bartlett finds himself guided by one of cricket&rsquo;s all-time greats. &ldquo;Growing up, he was someone everyone looked up to. Now to work with him is just amazing,&rdquo; he said.
According to Bartlett, Ponting&rsquo;s ability to balance intensity with calmness is what makes him a standout leader. &ldquo;He brings that energy to training but also keeps a cool head during high-pressure situations. That rubs off on all of us.&rdquo;
And off the field? &ldquo;He&rsquo;s very relaxed&hellip; but maybe not when he&rsquo;s playing golf,&rdquo; Bartlett quipped with a grin.
<h2>The dream wicket</h2>
When asked about the one batter he&rsquo;s most looking forward to bowling to, Bartlett didn&rsquo;t hesitate: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s hard to go past Virat Kohli. He&rsquo;s King Kohli for a reason.&rdquo; Facing a legend like Kohli, especially in India, is the kind of challenge Bartlett relishes.
And as for Punjab Kings&rsquo; title ambitions? Bartlett is hopeful but grounded. &ldquo;Every year you come into the tournament wanting to win. The vibe around the group is really strong. If we keep playing our brand of cricket, we&rsquo;ll be hard to beat.&rdquo;
With his calm demeanor, sharp cricketing brain, and humility off the field, Xavier Bartlett is quietly carving a name for himself in the IPL. Whether it&rsquo;s delivering under pressure, soaking up knowledge from legends, or just being the dependable guy in the squad, he&rsquo;s proving that he belongs.
Punjab Kings may be chasing their first IPL title, but with players like Bartlett in their ranks, they&rsquo;re not just building a team&mdash;they&rsquo;re building a legacy.

Cricket, Sports: His control, composure under pressure, and ability to adapt to different situations stood out early on, making him a highly anticipated pick for the IPL.

In the world of fast-paced T20 cricket, where chaos often rules, Xavier Bartlett brings a calm confidence that’s impossible to ignore. The young Australian pacer, known for his intelligent variations and quiet intensity, has made a solid impression in his maiden IPL stint with Punjab Kings. From lighting up Australia’s domestic circuit to now sharing the dressing room with global stars, Bartlett’s journey is one of steady growth, quiet ambition, and relentless hard work. Bartlett’s rise in Australian domestic cricket has been nothing short of impressive. A consistent performer for Queensland and the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League, he has earned a reputation as a clever fast bowler with a strong tactical mind. His control, composure under pressure, and ability to adapt to different situations stood out early on, making him a highly anticipated pick for the Indian Premier League. Now wearing the Punjab Kings jersey in the world’s most glamorous cricket league, Bartlett finds himself surrounded by world-class talent and in the spotlight like never before. Settling into IPL Speaking about his transition into the IPL, Bartlett shared, “It’s been an amazing experience so far… the atmosphere in the last couple of games has been electric.” The chance to rub shoulders with some of the best players in the world and learn from them has been a key part of his development, and Bartlett is soaking in every bit of it. He’s already working on fine-tuning his skill set for Indian conditions, especially focusing on slower balls and smarter variations on smaller grounds. “There’s so much research and data available here, and everyone’s so good. You really have to stay one step ahead,” he added. One of the standout aspects of Bartlett’s IPL journey so far has been the team environment. “Everyone gets on so well—it’s like one big family here in Punjab,” he said, with genuine warmth. Whether it’s seasoned veterans like Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal or rising stars like Suryansh Shedge, Bartlett is learning from everyone around him. His praise for Arshdeep’s work ethic was telling: “He’s one of the hardest trainers I’ve ever seen… he expects the highest of himself.” The pacer also highlighted the depth of local talent in the squad and how refreshing it is to see young Indian players stepping up when needed. Learning from legends Punjab Kings have no shortage of international pedigree in their coaching staff either. With Ricky Ponting at the helm as head coach, Bartlett finds himself guided by one of cricket’s all-time greats. “Growing up, he was someone everyone looked up to. Now to work with him is just amazing,” he said. According to Bartlett, Ponting’s ability to balance intensity with calmness is what makes him a standout leader. “He brings that energy to training but also keeps a cool head during high-pressure situations. That rubs off on all of us.” And off the field? “He’s very relaxed… but maybe not when he’s playing golf,” Bartlett quipped with a grin. The dream wicket When asked about the one batter he’s most looking forward to bowling to, Bartlett didn’t hesitate: “It’s hard to go past Virat Kohli. He’s King Kohli for a reason.” Facing a legend like Kohli, especially in India, is the kind of challenge Bartlett relishes. And as for Punjab Kings’ title ambitions? Bartlett is hopeful but grounded. “Every year you come into the tournament wanting to win. The vibe around the group is really strong. If we keep playing our brand of cricket, we’ll be hard to beat.” With his calm demeanor, sharp cricketing brain, and humility off the field, Xavier Bartlett is quietly carving a name for himself in the IPL. Whether it’s delivering under pressure, soaking up knowledge from legends, or just being the dependable guy in the squad, he’s proving that he belongs. Punjab Kings may be chasing their first IPL title, but with players like Bartlett in their ranks, they’re not just building a team—they’re building a legacy.

IPL 2025 | Exclusive | Australian ace, Indian stage: Punjab Kings' Xavier Bartlett blends pace with precision

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is often described as a high-octane festival of cricket, and among its many stalwarts, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/yuzvendra-chahal">Yuzvendra Chahal</a> stands tall&mdash;not just for his impressive tally of wickets, but also for his candid, witty, and humble demeanor off the field. With 206 wickets to his name, Chahal is the leading wicket-taker in IPL history. The spin wizard opened up about his current form, team ambitions, and the mental toughness required in T20 cricket.
Chahal, fondly known as 'Yuzi Bhai', acknowledged the challenges of bowling across varied Indian stadiums, from Chepauk to Chinnaswamy. &ldquo;We have played so many matches across India that we understand the conditions well. Our bowling strategy always depends on the ground, the dimensions, and what the team needs,&rdquo; Chahal said in an interview at JioHotstar Press Room with Punjab Kings.&nbsp;With a laugh, he added, &ldquo;Attack is my best form of defense,&rdquo; underlining his aggressive bowling mindset.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-srh-vs-gt-pitch-report-all-you-need-to-know-as-sunrisers-look-to-avoid-fourth-straight-defeat-dream11-live-streaming-squads-prediction-8931784">IPL 2025, SRH vs GT Pitch Report: All you need to know as SunRisers look to avoid fourth straight defeat</a>
On rivalries beteween the franchises in the IPL, Chahal was clear and composed: &ldquo;For me, it&rsquo;s always 100%. Even if a close friend is on the opposite side, he&rsquo;s a batsman and I&rsquo;m a bowler. Friendship stays off the field.&rdquo; His no-nonsense approach to competition reflects the mental discipline required at this elite level.
Despite a modest start to the season, Chahal remains upbeat. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s just been three matches, and we&rsquo;ve already won two. The performance will come. The tournament is long, and I am enjoying my bowling,&rdquo; he said. As for the weight of price tags? Chahal is unfazed. &ldquo;I believe I deserve it. Once you&rsquo;re on the ground, you don&rsquo;t think about 5 crore or 18 crore&mdash;you just focus on the game.&rdquo;
<h2 data-start="1718" data-end="2105">'We are aiming for top 2'</h2>
Now donning the Punjab Kings jersey, Chahal is embracing the change with optimism. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re aiming for the top 2. This team has great balance in both batting and bowling. There's a champion vibe in the dressing room,&rdquo; he said, highlighting the team&rsquo;s close-knit culture and unity. A key figure in shaping that atmosphere? Head coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting">Ricky Ponting</a>. &ldquo;Ricky sir gives you so much confidence. He treats everyone the same&mdash;whether it&rsquo;s a youngster or a senior player. That trust means a lot.&rdquo;
As competition for a national comeback intensifies, Chahal remains grounded. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s not in my hands. I enjoy the present,&rdquo; he said, while also mentoring young spinners like Digvesh Rathi and Suryansh. &ldquo;Self-belief is everything. Don&rsquo;t look at the name on the back of the batsman&rsquo;s jersey&mdash;just stick to your strengths.&rdquo;
Looking ahead, the clash against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mahendra-singh-dhoni">MS Dhoni</a> and CSK holds special significance. &ldquo;Mahi bhai knows my game inside out, and I know what he&rsquo;s thinking too. If he comes early, we attack. If it&rsquo;s the death overs, we don&rsquo;t give him easy balls.&rdquo; Their mutual respect promises a thrilling on-field chess match.
Reflecting on the beloved 'KulCha' duo, Chahal offered a hopeful note: &ldquo;We (Kuldeep and I) still talk a lot. And whenever we get the chance, we&rsquo;ll surely make a comeback together.&rdquo;
Yuzvendra Chahal&rsquo;s IPL 2025 journey is about more than just spin&mdash;it's about growth, grit, and guiding the next generation. With Ponting in the dugout and Punjab Kings hungry for success, Chahal&rsquo;s experience and swagger could be the game-changer this season.

Cricket, Sports: Yuzvendra Chahal’s IPL 2025 journey is about more than just spin—it is about growth, grit, and guiding the next generation players

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is often described as a high-octane festival of cricket, and among its many stalwarts, Yuzvendra Chahal stands tall—not just for his impressive tally of wickets, but also for his candid, witty, and humble demeanor off the field. With 206 wickets to his name, Chahal is the leading wicket-taker in IPL history. The spin wizard opened up about his current form, team ambitions, and the mental toughness required in T20 cricket. Chahal, fondly known as 'Yuzi Bhai', acknowledged the challenges of bowling across varied Indian stadiums, from Chepauk to Chinnaswamy. “We have played so many matches across India that we understand the conditions well. Our bowling strategy always depends on the ground, the dimensions, and what the team needs,” Chahal said in an interview at JioHotstar Press Room with Punjab Kings. With a laugh, he added, “Attack is my best form of defense,” underlining his aggressive bowling mindset. Also Read: IPL 2025, SRH vs GT Pitch Report: All you need to know as SunRisers look to avoid fourth straight defeat On rivalries beteween the franchises in the IPL, Chahal was clear and composed: “For me, it’s always 100%. Even if a close friend is on the opposite side, he’s a batsman and I’m a bowler. Friendship stays off the field.” His no-nonsense approach to competition reflects the mental discipline required at this elite level. Despite a modest start to the season, Chahal remains upbeat. “It’s just been three matches, and we’ve already won two. The performance will come. The tournament is long, and I am enjoying my bowling,” he said. As for the weight of price tags? Chahal is unfazed. “I believe I deserve it. Once you’re on the ground, you don’t think about 5 crore or 18 crore—you just focus on the game.” 'We are aiming for top 2' Now donning the Punjab Kings jersey, Chahal is embracing the change with optimism. “We’re aiming for the top 2. This team has great balance in both batting and bowling. There's a champion vibe in the dressing room,” he said, highlighting the team’s close-knit culture and unity. A key figure in shaping that atmosphere? Head coach Ricky Ponting. “Ricky sir gives you so much confidence. He treats everyone the same—whether it’s a youngster or a senior player. That trust means a lot.” As competition for a national comeback intensifies, Chahal remains grounded. “That’s not in my hands. I enjoy the present,” he said, while also mentoring young spinners like Digvesh Rathi and Suryansh. “Self-belief is everything. Don’t look at the name on the back of the batsman’s jersey—just stick to your strengths.” Looking ahead, the clash against MS Dhoni and CSK holds special significance. “Mahi bhai knows my game inside out, and I know what he’s thinking too. If he comes early, we attack. If it’s the death overs, we don’t give him easy balls.” Their mutual respect promises a thrilling on-field chess match. Reflecting on the beloved 'KulCha' duo, Chahal offered a hopeful note: “We (Kuldeep and I) still talk a lot. And whenever we get the chance, we’ll surely make a comeback together.” Yuzvendra Chahal’s IPL 2025 journey is about more than just spin—it's about growth, grit, and guiding the next generation. With Ponting in the dugout and Punjab Kings hungry for success, Chahal’s experience and swagger could be the game-changer this season.

Exclusive | IPL 2025 | Yuzvendra Chahal: Spinning new dreams with Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings (PBKS) coach Ricky Pontign has revealed that it was bowler Vijaykumar Vyshak who changed the game in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Tuesday (Mar 25). PBKS had posted a daunting total of 244 which GT almost but chased down in 11-run loss.
Vyshak was brought in as an impact player for PBKS and changed the complexion of the game. He gave away 28 runs in his three overs, including the high-pressure penultimate over of the chase. Vyshak only conceded 18 runs in the 19th over, leaving Arshdeep 27 runs to defend in the last over.
Also Read: <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/that-cost-us-the-game-gt-skipper-shubman-gill-reflects-on-11-run-loss-against-pbks-in-high-scoring-game-8890605" aria-label="'That cost us the game': GT skipper Shubman Gill reflects on 11-run loss against PBKS in high-scoring game">'That cost us the game': GT skipper Shubman Gill reflects on 11-run loss against PBKS in high-scoring game</a>
"While sitting in the dugout, I was like they need 13 or 14 runs an over and I sent the message to Shreyas and asked what do you want to do and he straight away said, just get Vyshak out here. He will nail a couple of overs at yorkers and we will close the game and Vyshak was the one who changed the game," said Ponting in a release by the franchise.
The bowler himself felt pretty good about his performance during which he gave away only 10 runs in his first two overs in a game where more than 450 runs were scored.
"It's a surreal feeling when you win the game, especially when you do it for the team in that situation, it really feels good and you can go to bed with a lot of happiness. I have learnt a lot today as well and it's a great lesson for me. Though, I was running around, I didn't know until we started bowling that I might be an impact player. I am really glad I got this opportunity and won it for the team," Vyshak said.
PBKS next play Lucknow Super Giants on April 1 in an away game.

The bowler himself felt pretty good about his performance during which he gave away only 10 runs in his first two overs in a game where more than 450 runs were scored. Cricket Sports

Punjab Kings (PBKS) coach Ricky Pontign has revealed that it was bowler Vijaykumar Vyshak who changed the game in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Tuesday (Mar 25). PBKS had posted a daunting total of 244 which GT almost but chased down in 11-run loss. Vyshak was brought in as an impact player for PBKS and changed the complexion of the game. He gave away 28 runs in his three overs, including the high-pressure penultimate over of the chase. Vyshak only conceded 18 runs in the 19th over, leaving Arshdeep 27 runs to defend in the last over. Also Read: 'That cost us the game': GT skipper Shubman Gill reflects on 11-run loss against PBKS in high-scoring game "While sitting in the dugout, I was like they need 13 or 14 runs an over and I sent the message to Shreyas and asked what do you want to do and he straight away said, just get Vyshak out here. He will nail a couple of overs at yorkers and we will close the game and Vyshak was the one who changed the game," said Ponting in a release by the franchise. The bowler himself felt pretty good about his performance during which he gave away only 10 runs in his first two overs in a game where more than 450 runs were scored. "It's a surreal feeling when you win the game, especially when you do it for the team in that situation, it really feels good and you can go to bed with a lot of happiness. I have learnt a lot today as well and it's a great lesson for me. Though, I was running around, I didn't know until we started bowling that I might be an impact player. I am really glad I got this opportunity and won it for the team," Vyshak said. PBKS next play Lucknow Super Giants on April 1 in an away game.

IPL 2025: PBKS coach Ponting says not Shreyas Iyer or Shashank Singh but THIS bowler 'changed the game' vs GT

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The IPL 2025 season is heating up, and one of the most anticipated clashes sees Punjab Kings locking horns with Gujarat Titans. This isn&rsquo;t just a match&mdash;it&rsquo;s a battle of two fearless young captains, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer">Shreyas Iyer</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubhman-gill" rel="dofollow">Shubman Gill</a>, both leading their teams with determination and tactical brilliance.&nbsp;
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Iyer, a proven leader with an IPL title under his belt, brings stability and an aggressive mindset to Punjab Kings. On the other hand, Gill, the elegant stroke-maker turned skipper, is crafting his own legacy with Gujarat Titans. Both teams have undergone strategic transformations, building squads that blend raw power, smart game plans, and an insatiable hunger for victory.&nbsp;
</div>
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As Punjab and Gujarat take the field, it&rsquo;s not just about points on the table&mdash;it&rsquo;s a statement of intent. Who will outthink and outplay the other? Will Iyer&rsquo;s calculated leadership trump Gill&rsquo;s instinctive captaincy? The answers lie in the thrilling battle ahead.&nbsp;
</div>
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Shreyas Iyer&rsquo;s appointment as the captain of Punjab Kings marks a significant chapter in the franchise&rsquo;s history.&nbsp;Acquired for a staggering approximately $3.18 million, Iyer became the second-most expensive player in the IPL 2025 auction. His leadership credentials are well-established, having led <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kolkata-knight-riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> (KKR) to an IPL title in 2024.&nbsp;
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Meanwhile, Shubman Gill&rsquo;s elevation to the captaincy of Gujarat Titans signifies a new era for the franchise. Known for his elegant batting style and calm demeanor, Gill&nbsp;represents the modern cricketer who combines skill with strategic thinking.&nbsp;
</div>
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<h2 class="Paragraph SCXW141748864 BCX0" paraid="209121751" paraeid="{9b7e9f9c-22d9-468d-9848-48af91fe6850}{104}">Strengths of Punjab Kings&nbsp;</h2>
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1. Iyer&rsquo;s proven track record as a captain brings strategic acumen and composure to the team. His previous success with KKR underscores his ability to inspire and lead.&nbsp;
</div>
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2. Under the guidance of head coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting">Ricky Ponting</a>, Punjab Kings have made calculated moves in the auction, assembling a squad that balances youth and experience. The reunion of Iyer and Ponting, who previously collaborated successfully at Delhi Capitals, is expected to bolster the team&rsquo;s performance.&nbsp;&nbsp;
</div>
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<h2 class="Paragraph SCXW141748864 BCX0" paraid="401062424" paraeid="{9b7e9f9c-22d9-468d-9848-48af91fe6850}{122}">Weaknesses of Punjab Kings&nbsp;</h2>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW141748864 BCX0">
1. With several new players joining the squad, building on-field chemistry may take time. The integration of diverse talents requires effective communication and understanding.&nbsp;
</div>
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2. Historically, Punjab Kings have struggled with maintaining consistent performances throughout the season. Addressing this challenge is crucial for their success in IPL 2025.&nbsp;
</div>
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<h2 class="Paragraph SCXW141748864 BCX0" paraid="1673847910" paraeid="{9b7e9f9c-22d9-468d-9848-48af91fe6850}{142}">Strengths of Gujarat Titans&nbsp;</h2>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW141748864 BCX0">
1. Gill&rsquo;s approach to leadership is characterised by adaptability and a deep understanding of the game. His ability to remain unflustered under pressure is a valuable asset.&nbsp;
</div>
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2. The acquisition of England&rsquo;s white-ball captain, Jos Buttler, for $1.8 million adds firepower to the Titans&rsquo; batting order. Buttler&rsquo;s aggressive style complements Gill&rsquo;s technique, creating a formidable top order.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</div>
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<h2 class="Paragraph SCXW141748864 BCX0" paraid="699310724" paraeid="{9b7e9f9c-22d9-468d-9848-48af91fe6850}{162}">Weaknesses of Gujarat Titans&nbsp;</h2>
</div>
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1. While Gill&rsquo;s potential as a leader is undeniable, his relative inexperience in captaincy at the IPL level could pose challenges, especially in high-pressure situations.&nbsp;
</div>
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2. The Titans&rsquo; bowling attack lacks seasoned campaigners, which could be a vulnerability against strong batting line-ups. Developing young bowlers and strategic rotations will be essential.&nbsp;
</div>
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As Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans prepare to face off, the duel between these two young leaders adds an intriguing narrative to the contest. Their fearless leadership styles not only influence their teams&rsquo; performances but also enrich the IPL&rsquo;s legacy of nurturing dynamic and innovative cricketing talent.
</div>

Cricket, Sports: Will Iyer’s calculated leadership trump Gill’s instinctive captaincy? The answers lie in the thrilling battle ahead as they lock horns on Tuesday

The IPL 2025 season is heating up, and one of the most anticipated clashes sees Punjab Kings locking horns with Gujarat Titans. This isn’t just a match—it’s a battle of two fearless young captains, Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill, both leading their teams with determination and tactical brilliance. Iyer, a proven leader with an IPL title under his belt, brings stability and an aggressive mindset to Punjab Kings. On the other hand, Gill, the elegant stroke-maker turned skipper, is crafting his own legacy with Gujarat Titans. Both teams have undergone strategic transformations, building squads that blend raw power, smart game plans, and an insatiable hunger for victory. As Punjab and Gujarat take the field, it’s not just about points on the table—it’s a statement of intent. Who will outthink and outplay the other? Will Iyer’s calculated leadership trump Gill’s instinctive captaincy? The answers lie in the thrilling battle ahead. Shreyas Iyer’s appointment as the captain of Punjab Kings marks a significant chapter in the franchise’s history. Acquired for a staggering approximately $3.18 million, Iyer became the second-most expensive player in the IPL 2025 auction. His leadership credentials are well-established, having led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to an IPL title in 2024. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill’s elevation to the captaincy of Gujarat Titans signifies a new era for the franchise. Known for his elegant batting style and calm demeanor, Gill represents the modern cricketer who combines skill with strategic thinking. Strengths of Punjab Kings 1. Iyer’s proven track record as a captain brings strategic acumen and composure to the team. His previous success with KKR underscores his ability to inspire and lead. 2. Under the guidance of head coach Ricky Ponting, Punjab Kings have made calculated moves in the auction, assembling a squad that balances youth and experience. The reunion of Iyer and Ponting, who previously collaborated successfully at Delhi Capitals, is expected to bolster the team’s performance. Weaknesses of Punjab Kings 1. With several new players joining the squad, building on-field chemistry may take time. The integration of diverse talents requires effective communication and understanding. 2. Historically, Punjab Kings have struggled with maintaining consistent performances throughout the season. Addressing this challenge is crucial for their success in IPL 2025. Strengths of Gujarat Titans 1. Gill’s approach to leadership is characterised by adaptability and a deep understanding of the game. His ability to remain unflustered under pressure is a valuable asset. 2. The acquisition of England’s white-ball captain, Jos Buttler, for $1.8 million adds firepower to the Titans’ batting order. Buttler’s aggressive style complements Gill’s technique, creating a formidable top order. Weaknesses of Gujarat Titans 1. While Gill’s potential as a leader is undeniable, his relative inexperience in captaincy at the IPL level could pose challenges, especially in high-pressure situations. 2. The Titans’ bowling attack lacks seasoned campaigners, which could be a vulnerability against strong batting line-ups. Developing young bowlers and strategic rotations will be essential. As Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans prepare to face off, the duel between these two young leaders adds an intriguing narrative to the contest. Their fearless leadership styles not only influence their teams’ performances but also enrich the IPL’s legacy of nurturing dynamic and innovative cricketing talent.

IPL 2025 | Battle of Kings vs Titans: Iyer’s Punjab takes on Gill’s Gujarat

Former IPL-winning captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/adam-gilchrist-0" rel="dofollow">Adam Gilchrist</a> has picked his orange cap contender for the 18th edition while backing the new leadership at Punjab Kings (PBKS) to change the team&rsquo;s fortune for good. Gilchrist won the IPL in 2009 with the now-defunct Deccan Chargers but failed to lead the Punjab side to glory during his stint. He, however, dropped ground-breaking revelations about how the management was erratic and acted like a handbrake when he led them.
"There&rsquo;s still the same ownership when I was the captain of that particular franchise, and it was somewhat erratic at times, and that might be the handbrake for them for a long while," the former PBKS captain Gilchrist said on the YouTube show Club Prairie Fire.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/watch-ms-dhoni-shares-light-moment-with-hardik-pandya-ahead-of-marquee-csk-mi-ipl-2025-clash-8880461" rel="dofollow">Watch &ndash; MS Dhoni shares light moment with Hardik Pandya ahead of CSK-MI clash</a>
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings have a new head coach - Ricky Ponting, and skipper - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer" rel="dofollow">Shreyas Iyer</a>, heading into <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a>, and Gilchrist believes with Punter around, as fans used to call Ponting, he can help settle PBKS&rsquo; sinking ship. PBKS is among the only three IPL teams, alongside the Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, to have never won a title.
Throwing weight behind this new pairing of Iyer and Ponting at PBKS, Gilchrist said considering they had worked previously, they know how to function in tandem, something that might click for the team.
&ldquo;I think the combination of Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer will inspire that franchise. They have worked well together previously, and that&rsquo;s going to be the cohesive gel to bring their ownership together. But I think Ricky will settle the ship,&rdquo; Gilchrist added.
<h2>New orange cap winner</h2>
As accolades go, the player with the most runs gets the orange cap, while the purple cap is bestowed upon the highest wicket-taker. With the tournament already underway, Gilchrist picked his first choice for the orange cap holder, and without any surprises, it&rsquo;s PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer.
Considering the new-look PBKS side filled with plenty of match winners, Iyer is likely to bat at number three, a position Gilchrist feels will help stay among the runs.
&ldquo;Shreyas Iyer is going to be my Orange Cap wearer by the end of it. He is going to bat at number three. He has been talking about it and he is shifting up the order and taking on the leadership role for them,&rdquo; he continued.&nbsp;
Besides his batting number, Iyer&rsquo;s credentials as a captain will benefit PBKS this season. Under Iyer&rsquo;s leadership, Kolkata Knight Riders won the title last season.&nbsp;
However, after both parties decided to mutually part ways, PBKS bagged Iyer&rsquo;s services for a whopping $3.1m (INR 26.75 crore) &ndash; the second-most expensive player in auction history.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: PBKS is among the only three IPL teams, alongside the Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, to have never won a title.

Former IPL-winning captain Adam Gilchrist has picked his orange cap contender for the 18th edition while backing the new leadership at Punjab Kings (PBKS) to change the team’s fortune for good. Gilchrist won the IPL in 2009 with the now-defunct Deccan Chargers but failed to lead the Punjab side to glory during his stint. He, however, dropped ground-breaking revelations about how the management was erratic and acted like a handbrake when he led them. "There’s still the same ownership when I was the captain of that particular franchise, and it was somewhat erratic at times, and that might be the handbrake for them for a long while," the former PBKS captain Gilchrist said on the YouTube show Club Prairie Fire. Also read | Watch – MS Dhoni shares light moment with Hardik Pandya ahead of CSK-MI clash Meanwhile, Punjab Kings have a new head coach - Ricky Ponting, and skipper - Shreyas Iyer, heading into IPL 2025, and Gilchrist believes with Punter around, as fans used to call Ponting, he can help settle PBKS’ sinking ship. PBKS is among the only three IPL teams, alongside the Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, to have never won a title. Throwing weight behind this new pairing of Iyer and Ponting at PBKS, Gilchrist said considering they had worked previously, they know how to function in tandem, something that might click for the team. “I think the combination of Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer will inspire that franchise. They have worked well together previously, and that’s going to be the cohesive gel to bring their ownership together. But I think Ricky will settle the ship,” Gilchrist added. New orange cap winner As accolades go, the player with the most runs gets the orange cap, while the purple cap is bestowed upon the highest wicket-taker. With the tournament already underway, Gilchrist picked his first choice for the orange cap holder, and without any surprises, it’s PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer. Considering the new-look PBKS side filled with plenty of match winners, Iyer is likely to bat at number three, a position Gilchrist feels will help stay among the runs. “Shreyas Iyer is going to be my Orange Cap wearer by the end of it. He is going to bat at number three. He has been talking about it and he is shifting up the order and taking on the leadership role for them,” he continued. Besides his batting number, Iyer’s credentials as a captain will benefit PBKS this season. Under Iyer’s leadership, Kolkata Knight Riders won the title last season. However, after both parties decided to mutually part ways, PBKS bagged Iyer’s services for a whopping $3.1m (INR 26.75 crore) – the second-most expensive player in auction history. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Gilchrist picks orange cap contender; backs Ponting-Iyer to change PBKS fortunes

Punjab Kings&rsquo; new head coach, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting">Ricky Ponting</a>, is brimming with confidence ahead of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) 2025 season. The Australian World Cup-winning captain believes the franchise has built its strongest squad ever and is determined to secure their maiden IPL title.
During a conversation with meta creators at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh, Ponting emphasised his vision for the team, stating, &ldquo;The goal is clear&mdash;we want to win the IPL. From the first day of camp in Dharamshala, I told the players that we are going to create and become the greatest Punjab Kings team ever. It&rsquo;s a journey that takes time, but we are committed to building something special.&rdquo;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-lucknow-super-giants-trolled-as-worst-ipl-franchise-over-viral-social-media-clip-8879131">IPL 2025 | Lucknow Super Giants trolled as 'worst IPL franchise' over viral social media clip</a>
Ponting highlighted the importance of a winning mindset, explaining, &ldquo;Winning is all about attitude. If the opposition wants to beat us, it should feel like they&rsquo;re taking something away from us. I don&rsquo;t want to let anyone take anything away from my team.&rdquo;
<h2>'Musheer has got an infectious attitude'</h2>
He also praised the squad&rsquo;s balance of youth and experience, noting that the blend of young talent and seasoned players will be crucial to their success. Among the emerging stars, Ponting singled out Priyansh Arya, a promising opening batsman, as well as Suryansh Shedge, who has impressed in training. Another young player who has caught his attention is Musheer Khan. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s got an infectious attitude and brings great energy to the team. I&rsquo;ve really enjoyed working with him,&rdquo; Ponting said.
The head coach also stressed the role of experienced overseas players in setting the right example for young Indian cricketers. &ldquo;I expect them to lead by example. The young domestic players look up to them, and if they do things the right way, it sets the standard for the entire squad,&rdquo; he explained.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/punjab-kings">Punjab Kings</a> will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/gujarat-titans">Gujarat Titans</a> at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 25. After an away game against Lucknow Super Giants, they will return home to face Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings.

Sports, Cricket: Ponting also praised squad’s balance of youth and experience, noting that the blend of young talent & seasoned players will be crucial to their success

Punjab Kings’ new head coach, Ricky Ponting, is brimming with confidence ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The Australian World Cup-winning captain believes the franchise has built its strongest squad ever and is determined to secure their maiden IPL title. During a conversation with meta creators at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh, Ponting emphasised his vision for the team, stating, “The goal is clear—we want to win the IPL. From the first day of camp in Dharamshala, I told the players that we are going to create and become the greatest Punjab Kings team ever. It’s a journey that takes time, but we are committed to building something special.” Also Read: IPL 2025 | Lucknow Super Giants trolled as 'worst IPL franchise' over viral social media clip Ponting highlighted the importance of a winning mindset, explaining, “Winning is all about attitude. If the opposition wants to beat us, it should feel like they’re taking something away from us. I don’t want to let anyone take anything away from my team.” 'Musheer has got an infectious attitude' He also praised the squad’s balance of youth and experience, noting that the blend of young talent and seasoned players will be crucial to their success. Among the emerging stars, Ponting singled out Priyansh Arya, a promising opening batsman, as well as Suryansh Shedge, who has impressed in training. Another young player who has caught his attention is Musheer Khan. “He’s got an infectious attitude and brings great energy to the team. I’ve really enjoyed working with him,” Ponting said. The head coach also stressed the role of experienced overseas players in setting the right example for young Indian cricketers. “I expect them to lead by example. The young domestic players look up to them, and if they do things the right way, it sets the standard for the entire squad,” he explained. Punjab Kings will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 25. After an away game against Lucknow Super Giants, they will return home to face Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings.

IPL 2025 | 'We are going to become greatest Punjab Kings side', says head coach Ricky Ponting

Punjab Kings have ushered in a new chapter of their IPL journey, unveiling their revamped squad, coaching staff, and leadership under the guidance of head coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting">Ricky Ponting</a> and captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer">Shreyas Iyer</a>. Ahead of their opening match, team's CEO Satish Menon along with head coach Ricky Ponting and team captain Shreyas Iyer, laid out its vision for the upcoming season, expressing confidence in their squad composition and future prospects.
Ponting, who took over the coaching reins six months ago, emphasised the importance of rebuilding the team from the ground up. The franchise strategically retained just two young players ahead of the auction, enabling them to enter the bidding process with a substantial purse. This approach allowed Punjab Kings to acquire key Indian talents such as Arshdeep Singh and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/yuzvendra-chahal" rel="dofollow">Yuzvendra Chahal</a>, ensuring a robust mix of experience and youth.
&ldquo;We wanted to go into the auction with a clean slate, and I believe we have built an extremely balanced team. Our squad now consists of high-quality Indian players alongside strong overseas talent. The atmosphere in the camp is positive, and the players are motivated to give their best," said Ponting.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-ab-de-villiers-reveals-virat-kohlis-stance-on-ee-sala-cup-namde-chant-8866130">IPL 2025: AB de Villiers reveals Virat Kohli's stance on 'Ee Sala Cup Namde' chant</a>
The appointment of Shreyas Iyer as captain was a pivotal decision for the franchise. Having previously worked with Iyer at Delhi Capitals, Ponting expressed his admiration for the batsman&rsquo;s leadership skills and winning mentality. &ldquo;Shreyas is an IPL-winning captain and one of the finest cricketers I have worked with. His presence will be instrumental in shaping our team&rsquo;s identity," Ponting added.
Iyer, confident in his approach, declared his preferred batting position at No. 3, indicating clarity in his role within the team. &ldquo;I am focusing on anchoring the innings at No. 3. It&rsquo;s a position I am comfortable with, and I believe I can contribute significantly from there," he said.
As the franchise gears up for IPL 2025, they face the challenge of improving their home record, which has been underwhelming in recent seasons. Ponting and Iyer both stressed the importance of turning their home ground into a fortress and establishing dominance. &ldquo;The past results don&rsquo;t matter. We have a fresh team and a fresh mindset. We will analyse conditions, understand what works best for our venue, and ensure we make it a tough place for visiting teams," opined Ponting.
<h2>'We will be dynamic and destructive'</h2>
Menon echoed the sentiment of building a strong Punjab identity within the team. With the inclusion of several local players, the franchise aims to resonate with its regional fanbase and create a distinct cultural bond. &ldquo;We are working on fostering a sense of togetherness within the squad. Having five Punjab players in the team adds to the local flavor and strengthens our identity. The camaraderie between players and the coaching staff is excellent," said Menon.
The franchise is also focused on expanding its fanbase, recognising that success on the field plays a crucial role in drawing support. &ldquo;Winning brings fans. We already have a dedicated following, but this season, we aim to increase our reach significantly," Menon hinted at upcoming initiatives to enhance engagement.
With pre-season training underway and practice matches lined up, Punjab Kings are determined to set the tone early. Their opening encounter against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad will be a significant test, and Ponting has assured fans that they will witness an aggressive, fearless brand of cricket. &ldquo;When we step onto the field, we will be dynamic, determined, and destructive. We are here to entertain and, most importantly, to win," Ponting signed off.
As Punjab Kings embark on their renewed IPL journey, the anticipation among fans is palpable. With a fresh squad, strategic leadership, and a well-defined vision, the team looks poised for an exciting season ahead.

Sports, Cricket: The franchise strategically retained just two young players ahead of the auction, enabling them to enter the bidding process with a substantial purse

Punjab Kings have ushered in a new chapter of their IPL journey, unveiling their revamped squad, coaching staff, and leadership under the guidance of head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer. Ahead of their opening match, team's CEO Satish Menon along with head coach Ricky Ponting and team captain Shreyas Iyer, laid out its vision for the upcoming season, expressing confidence in their squad composition and future prospects. Ponting, who took over the coaching reins six months ago, emphasised the importance of rebuilding the team from the ground up. The franchise strategically retained just two young players ahead of the auction, enabling them to enter the bidding process with a substantial purse. This approach allowed Punjab Kings to acquire key Indian talents such as Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal, ensuring a robust mix of experience and youth. “We wanted to go into the auction with a clean slate, and I believe we have built an extremely balanced team. Our squad now consists of high-quality Indian players alongside strong overseas talent. The atmosphere in the camp is positive, and the players are motivated to give their best," said Ponting. Also Read: IPL 2025: AB de Villiers reveals Virat Kohli's stance on 'Ee Sala Cup Namde' chant The appointment of Shreyas Iyer as captain was a pivotal decision for the franchise. Having previously worked with Iyer at Delhi Capitals, Ponting expressed his admiration for the batsman’s leadership skills and winning mentality. “Shreyas is an IPL-winning captain and one of the finest cricketers I have worked with. His presence will be instrumental in shaping our team’s identity," Ponting added. Iyer, confident in his approach, declared his preferred batting position at No. 3, indicating clarity in his role within the team. “I am focusing on anchoring the innings at No. 3. It’s a position I am comfortable with, and I believe I can contribute significantly from there," he said. As the franchise gears up for IPL 2025, they face the challenge of improving their home record, which has been underwhelming in recent seasons. Ponting and Iyer both stressed the importance of turning their home ground into a fortress and establishing dominance. “The past results don’t matter. We have a fresh team and a fresh mindset. We will analyse conditions, understand what works best for our venue, and ensure we make it a tough place for visiting teams," opined Ponting. 'We will be dynamic and destructive' Menon echoed the sentiment of building a strong Punjab identity within the team. With the inclusion of several local players, the franchise aims to resonate with its regional fanbase and create a distinct cultural bond. “We are working on fostering a sense of togetherness within the squad. Having five Punjab players in the team adds to the local flavor and strengthens our identity. The camaraderie between players and the coaching staff is excellent," said Menon. The franchise is also focused on expanding its fanbase, recognising that success on the field plays a crucial role in drawing support. “Winning brings fans. We already have a dedicated following, but this season, we aim to increase our reach significantly," Menon hinted at upcoming initiatives to enhance engagement. With pre-season training underway and practice matches lined up, Punjab Kings are determined to set the tone early. Their opening encounter against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad will be a significant test, and Ponting has assured fans that they will witness an aggressive, fearless brand of cricket. “When we step onto the field, we will be dynamic, determined, and destructive. We are here to entertain and, most importantly, to win," Ponting signed off. As Punjab Kings embark on their renewed IPL journey, the anticipation among fans is palpable. With a fresh squad, strategic leadership, and a well-defined vision, the team looks poised for an exciting season ahead.

IPL 2025 | 'We are here to entertain and, most importantly, to win', says PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has backed Rohit Sharma to feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup after leading India to win in the recently concluded Champions Trophy 2025. On Sunday, India beat New Zealand in the final of the Champions Trophy to lift a record third title in the coveted ICC tournament. Rohit was instrumental in the final as he scored 76 off 83, helping India clinch the Champions Trophy after 12 years.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Rohit is backed by Ricky Ponting</h2>
"When you start getting to that point of your career, everyone's waiting for you to retire. And I don't know why, when you can still play as well as he's played (in the Champions Trophy final), I think he was just trying to put those questions to bed once and for all and say, 'no, I'm still playing well enough. I love playing in this team. I love leading this team.'
"And I think, the fact that he said that, to me, it means that he must have that goal in mind of playing in the next (50-over) World Cup (in 2027)," said Ponting while speaking in the latest edition of the ICC Review.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/man-utd-new-stadium-plans-where-will-the-red-devils-play-as-club-sets-sight-on-new-trafford-know-more-8844966" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Man Utd new stadium plans: Where will the Red Devils play as club sets sight on 'New Trafford'? Know More</a>
The Indian team has been in sensational form in recent times, reaching four ICC finals under Rohit Sharma&rsquo;s captaincy. The Men in Blue lost the 2023 ODI World Cup final to Australia, while the same opposition got the better of them in the World Test Championship (WTC) in the same year. Adding to the impressive showing, India won the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean Islands in June before lifting the Champions Trophy on Sunday.
By the time the 2027 ODI World Cup kicks off in South Africa, Rohit will be 40, meaning it is highly unlikely that he could be part of the Indian team. However, for now, Rohit has ruled out any possibility of retirement, as stated by Rohit during his post-match press conference on Sunday.

Sports, Cricket: Ricky Ponting has backed Rohit Sharma to feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup after leading India to win in the recently concluded Champions Trophy 2025.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has backed Rohit Sharma to feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup after leading India to win in the recently concluded Champions Trophy 2025. On Sunday, India beat New Zealand in the final of the Champions Trophy to lift a record third title in the coveted ICC tournament. Rohit was instrumental in the final as he scored 76 off 83, helping India clinch the Champions Trophy after 12 years. Rohit is backed by Ricky Ponting "When you start getting to that point of your career, everyone's waiting for you to retire. And I don't know why, when you can still play as well as he's played (in the Champions Trophy final), I think he was just trying to put those questions to bed once and for all and say, 'no, I'm still playing well enough. I love playing in this team. I love leading this team.' "And I think, the fact that he said that, to me, it means that he must have that goal in mind of playing in the next (50-over) World Cup (in 2027)," said Ponting while speaking in the latest edition of the ICC Review. ALSO READ | Man Utd new stadium plans: Where will the Red Devils play as club sets sight on 'New Trafford'? Know More The Indian team has been in sensational form in recent times, reaching four ICC finals under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. The Men in Blue lost the 2023 ODI World Cup final to Australia, while the same opposition got the better of them in the World Test Championship (WTC) in the same year. Adding to the impressive showing, India won the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean Islands in June before lifting the Champions Trophy on Sunday. By the time the 2027 ODI World Cup kicks off in South Africa, Rohit will be 40, meaning it is highly unlikely that he could be part of the Indian team. However, for now, Rohit has ruled out any possibility of retirement, as stated by Rohit during his post-match press conference on Sunday.

Ricky Ponting backs Rohit Sharma to feature in 2027 ODI World Cup, says 'he must have that goal'

South Africa hold the edge over New Zealand in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> semi-final due to their superior class and power, according to former Australian captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting">Ricky Ponting</a>. While he acknowledges New Zealand&rsquo;s capabilities, Ponting believes South Africa&rsquo;s deep batting lineup makes them favourites to advance.
New Zealand enter the knockout stage after a heavy defeat to India in Dubai, whereas South Africa have momentum on their side following a dominant seven-wicket win against England. Ponting highlighted that, much like India, South Africa&rsquo;s batting depth gives them an advantage.
&ldquo;If I compare both teams, South Africa has that extra bit of class. They bat deep and might have a little too much power for New Zealand,&rdquo; Ponting said on ICC Review. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m backing South Africa to win, even though I&rsquo;ve praised New Zealand.&rdquo;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/73-and-gone-steve-smith-bats-for-95-balls-then-misses-full-toss-to-get-bowled-in-champions-trophy-semis-australia-vs-india-watch-8778516">'73 and gone': Aussie Steve Smith bats for 95 balls then misses full toss to get bowled in Champions Trophy semis vs India - WATCH</a>
Ponting emphasised the importance of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kane-williamson">Kane Williamson</a>&rsquo;s role, stating that top players must step up in crucial moments. &ldquo;Williamson needs to score runs in this game. Big games require big performances, and he is a big-match player. He knows the magnitude of this semifinal, and I wouldn&rsquo;t be surprised if he delivers,&rdquo; he said.
<h2>'Klaasen is crucial for SA'</h2>
After struggling against Pakistan (1) and Bangladesh (5), Williamson regained form with a 120-ball 81 against India, which could boost his confidence. However, Ponting feels South Africa&rsquo;s top and middle-order batters&mdash;Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, David Miller, and Heinrich Klaasen&mdash;could pose serious challenges for New Zealand.
&ldquo;Klaasen is crucial because he plays spin exceptionally well and is a clean hitter. If he comes in around the 30-over mark with South Africa only a few wickets down, he could be truly dangerous,&rdquo; Ponting added.
Ponting also pointed out key match-ups that could influence the outcome. &ldquo;Rickelton has provided strong starts for South Africa, including a big hundred against Afghanistan. On the other hand, Matt Henry has been outstanding for New Zealand with a five-wicket haul in the group stage. Their battle will be fascinating.&rdquo;
Another potential game-changer, according to Ponting, is the contest between Klaasen and Mitchell Santner. &ldquo;Klaasen thrives against spin, but Santner is a smart left-arm spinner. New Zealand might introduce spin early against him, and whoever wins that duel could decide the match.&rdquo;
Ponting also expressed surprise over New Zealand&rsquo;s inconsistent opening combination, particularly Devon Conway&rsquo;s omission despite his solid performances. &ldquo;They started with Will Young and Conway against Pakistan and Bangladesh but brought in Rachin Ravindra against India. I&rsquo;d stick with Conway at the top for a left-right combination,&rdquo; he suggested.
With both teams aiming for a place in the final, the semifinal promises to be an intense battle where key players and match-ups could determine the outcome.

Cricket, Sports: Ponting also expressed surprise over New Zealand’s inconsistent opening combination, particularly Devon Conway’s omission despite his solid performances

South Africa hold the edge over New Zealand in the Champions Trophy semi-final due to their superior class and power, according to former Australian captain Ricky Ponting. While he acknowledges New Zealand’s capabilities, Ponting believes South Africa’s deep batting lineup makes them favourites to advance. New Zealand enter the knockout stage after a heavy defeat to India in Dubai, whereas South Africa have momentum on their side following a dominant seven-wicket win against England. Ponting highlighted that, much like India, South Africa’s batting depth gives them an advantage. “If I compare both teams, South Africa has that extra bit of class. They bat deep and might have a little too much power for New Zealand,” Ponting said on ICC Review. “I’m backing South Africa to win, even though I’ve praised New Zealand.” Also Read: '73 and gone': Aussie Steve Smith bats for 95 balls then misses full toss to get bowled in Champions Trophy semis vs India - WATCH Ponting emphasised the importance of Kane Williamson’s role, stating that top players must step up in crucial moments. “Williamson needs to score runs in this game. Big games require big performances, and he is a big-match player. He knows the magnitude of this semifinal, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he delivers,” he said. 'Klaasen is crucial for SA' After struggling against Pakistan (1) and Bangladesh (5), Williamson regained form with a 120-ball 81 against India, which could boost his confidence. However, Ponting feels South Africa’s top and middle-order batters—Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, David Miller, and Heinrich Klaasen—could pose serious challenges for New Zealand. “Klaasen is crucial because he plays spin exceptionally well and is a clean hitter. If he comes in around the 30-over mark with South Africa only a few wickets down, he could be truly dangerous,” Ponting added. Ponting also pointed out key match-ups that could influence the outcome. “Rickelton has provided strong starts for South Africa, including a big hundred against Afghanistan. On the other hand, Matt Henry has been outstanding for New Zealand with a five-wicket haul in the group stage. Their battle will be fascinating.” Another potential game-changer, according to Ponting, is the contest between Klaasen and Mitchell Santner. “Klaasen thrives against spin, but Santner is a smart left-arm spinner. New Zealand might introduce spin early against him, and whoever wins that duel could decide the match.” Ponting also expressed surprise over New Zealand’s inconsistent opening combination, particularly Devon Conway’s omission despite his solid performances. “They started with Will Young and Conway against Pakistan and Bangladesh but brought in Rachin Ravindra against India. I’d stick with Conway at the top for a left-right combination,” he suggested. With both teams aiming for a place in the final, the semifinal promises to be an intense battle where key players and match-ups could determine the outcome.

Champions Trophy: South Africa have bit more class and power compared to NZ: Former Australia captain

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is in awe of Virat Kohli as he continues to impress for Team India in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. The veteran Indian batter scored his 51st ODI hundred on Sunday (Feb 23) as the Men in Blue beat Pakistan in the Champions Trophy 2025. According to Ponting, Virat is the best 50-over player he has seen after smashing multiple records. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Ponting in awe of Virat<o:p></o:p></h2>
"Congratulations to him [Kohli]. He's obviously been a champion player for a long, long time. And particularly, probably in the white-ball formats where he's been an unbelievably good 50-over player," Ponting said while speaking to the ICC Review Podcast. "In fact, I think I'm on record before saying I don't think I've ever seen a better 50-over player than Virat Kohli.<o:p></o:p>
"It's crazy when you think about it, isn't it? Just how good Virat's been over such a long period of time, yet he's still 4,000 runs behind Sachin. I mean, it just goes to show how good Sachin was, but also his longevity in the game,&rdquo; added Ponting.<o:p></o:p>
On Sunday Virat scored his 82nd international ton while also completing 14,000 runs in the ODI format. In ODIs, he already holds the record for most hundreds and is only behind Sachin Tendulkar for most tons at the international level. With at least two matches to go in the Champions Trophy 2025, he is set to become the second-highest ODI run scorer with currently Tendulkar and Sri Lanka&rsquo;s Kumar Sangakkara sitting ahead of him.<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-over-100-pakistani-policemen-dismissed-for-refusing-duty-8756871" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Champions Trophy 2025: Over 100 Pakistani policemen dismissed for refusing duty</a> 
Virat needs 150 runs to become the second-highest run scorer in ODIs and will be determined to achieve the feat in the Champions Trophy 2025.<o:p></o:p>
The former India skipper will be next in action on Sunday as the Men in Blue take on New Zealand in the final group game. A win for India will see them top the group having already booked their place in the semifinal of the Champions Trophy 2025.

Sports, Cricket: Former India captain Virat Kohli scored his 51st ODI hundred on Sunday (Feb 23) as the Men in Blue beat Pakistan in the Champions Trophy 2025.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is in awe of Virat Kohli as he continues to impress for Team India in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. The veteran Indian batter scored his 51st ODI hundred on Sunday (Feb 23) as the Men in Blue beat Pakistan in the Champions Trophy 2025. According to Ponting, Virat is the best 50-over player he has seen after smashing multiple records. Ponting in awe of Virat "Congratulations to him [Kohli]. He's obviously been a champion player for a long, long time. And particularly, probably in the white-ball formats where he's been an unbelievably good 50-over player," Ponting said while speaking to the ICC Review Podcast. "In fact, I think I'm on record before saying I don't think I've ever seen a better 50-over player than Virat Kohli. "It's crazy when you think about it, isn't it? Just how good Virat's been over such a long period of time, yet he's still 4,000 runs behind Sachin. I mean, it just goes to show how good Sachin was, but also his longevity in the game,” added Ponting. On Sunday Virat scored his 82nd international ton while also completing 14,000 runs in the ODI format. In ODIs, he already holds the record for most hundreds and is only behind Sachin Tendulkar for most tons at the international level. With at least two matches to go in the Champions Trophy 2025, he is set to become the second-highest ODI run scorer with currently Tendulkar and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara sitting ahead of him. ALSO READ | Champions Trophy 2025: Over 100 Pakistani policemen dismissed for refusing duty Virat needs 150 runs to become the second-highest run scorer in ODIs and will be determined to achieve the feat in the Champions Trophy 2025. The former India skipper will be next in action on Sunday as the Men in Blue take on New Zealand in the final group game. A win for India will see them top the group having already booked their place in the semifinal of the Champions Trophy 2025.

Champions Trophy 2025: Ricky Ponting in awe of Virat Kohli, says 'haven't seen a better 50-over player'

Former Australia captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting" rel="dofollow">Ricky Ponting</a> praised India batter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubman-gill" rel="dofollow">Shubman Gill</a> for his maiden ICC event hundred against Bangladesh in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy</a> tie in Dubai while commenting on his promotion as the new ranked number one ODI batter. Ponting credited Gill&rsquo;s game plan against Bangladesh, which saw the Men in Blue emerging victorious by six wickets.
Gill was among the two heroes on the day against the Tigers, with seamer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mohammed-shami" rel="dofollow">Mohammed Shami</a> also making headlines for his first five-for of the tournament. The right-handed batter looked composed during his unbeaten 101-run knock in the chase, helping India pocket two crucial points in Group A.&nbsp;
Commenting on him becoming the top batter in the One-Dayers, Ponting said the way he&rsquo;s batting at the moment, Gill deserves to sit on the pedestal.
"He thoroughly deserves to be the number-one-ranked batter in the world at the moment. It's a great sign for India that he's got his account underway early in the first game of a Champions Trophy,&rdquo; Ponting said while speaking to the ICC Review.
Although Gill is yet to prove his mettle in Tests, Ponting feels the two white-ball formats are perfectly suited for his style of play. Punter also remarked on Gill&rsquo;s rise as a big-game player (over the years), crediting his success in the IPL and captaincy experience there for this.
"He's been a very, very good international player for a number of years. He hasn't sort of transferred that over into Test Match cricket yet, but his white-ball cricket over the last three or four years has been outstanding.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Look, he's a big-game player as well. He's played really well in IPLs over the last couple of years, obviously being captain of his franchise there,&rdquo; Ponting continued.
<h2>'He scores at will against pacers'</h2>
Unlike several top-order batters worldwide, Gill takes on the fast bowlers like none other, attacking them for fun. Even against Bangladesh, he stepped out and slammed a few fours to the new ball quicks before impressing everyone by playing his natural game against the spin.&nbsp;
Gill rotated the strike brilliantly while scoring on bad deliveries. Speaking on the same lines, Ponting noted,
&ldquo;He can come out and be nice and aggressive early in the power play with the field up, get some boundaries away early by playing good, naturally aggressive cricketing shots.&nbsp;
"He's not a big hitter, he doesn't try to do anything outside of his natural game, but he scores boundaries almost at will against fast bowling,&rdquo; Ponting added.
Meanwhile, Gill will attract all eyeballs during India&rsquo;s marquee clash against the tournament host and arch-rivals Pakistan in the next match this Sunday (Feb 23) in Dubai.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Gill was among the two heroes on the day against the Tigers, with seamer Mohammed Shami also making headlines for his first five-for of the tournament.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting praised India batter Shubman Gill for his maiden ICC event hundred against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy tie in Dubai while commenting on his promotion as the new ranked number one ODI batter. Ponting credited Gill’s game plan against Bangladesh, which saw the Men in Blue emerging victorious by six wickets. Gill was among the two heroes on the day against the Tigers, with seamer Mohammed Shami also making headlines for his first five-for of the tournament. The right-handed batter looked composed during his unbeaten 101-run knock in the chase, helping India pocket two crucial points in Group A. Commenting on him becoming the top batter in the One-Dayers, Ponting said the way he’s batting at the moment, Gill deserves to sit on the pedestal. "He thoroughly deserves to be the number-one-ranked batter in the world at the moment. It's a great sign for India that he's got his account underway early in the first game of a Champions Trophy,” Ponting said while speaking to the ICC Review. Although Gill is yet to prove his mettle in Tests, Ponting feels the two white-ball formats are perfectly suited for his style of play. Punter also remarked on Gill’s rise as a big-game player (over the years), crediting his success in the IPL and captaincy experience there for this. "He's been a very, very good international player for a number of years. He hasn't sort of transferred that over into Test Match cricket yet, but his white-ball cricket over the last three or four years has been outstanding. “Look, he's a big-game player as well. He's played really well in IPLs over the last couple of years, obviously being captain of his franchise there,” Ponting continued. 'He scores at will against pacers' Unlike several top-order batters worldwide, Gill takes on the fast bowlers like none other, attacking them for fun. Even against Bangladesh, he stepped out and slammed a few fours to the new ball quicks before impressing everyone by playing his natural game against the spin. Gill rotated the strike brilliantly while scoring on bad deliveries. Speaking on the same lines, Ponting noted, “He can come out and be nice and aggressive early in the power play with the field up, get some boundaries away early by playing good, naturally aggressive cricketing shots. "He's not a big hitter, he doesn't try to do anything outside of his natural game, but he scores boundaries almost at will against fast bowling,” Ponting added. Meanwhile, Gill will attract all eyeballs during India’s marquee clash against the tournament host and arch-rivals Pakistan in the next match this Sunday (Feb 23) in Dubai. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy 2025 - ‘Shubman Gill deserves to be number 1 ODI batter,’ says Ricky Ponting

ICC Hall of Famer and former Australian skipper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting">Ricky Ponting</a> has thrown his support behind <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/steve-smith">Steve Smith</a> opening the batting during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, believing the experienced right-hander could anchor the innings at the top of the order.
Australia&rsquo;s campaign begins on February 22 in Lahore against arch-rivals England, followed by matches against South Africa (February 25) in Rawalpindi and Afghanistan (February 28) back in Lahore.
Ponting, speaking on The ICC Review, addressed Australia&rsquo;s mounting injury concerns. Regular captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pat-cummins">Pat Cummins</a>, fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, all-rounders Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh, and even recently retired Marcus Stoinis (from ODIs) will miss the tournament, forcing selectors to make some bold calls.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-pak-vs-nz-batter-fakhar-zaman-suffers-injury-scare-while-fielding-8736507">Champions Trophy, PAK vs NZ: Jolt for Pakistan as batter Fakhar Zaman suffers injury scare</a>
While <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/travis-head">Travis Head</a> appears locked in for a top-order spot, Ponting speculated that moving Smith up from his usual No. 4 position could be on the cards. Smith has thrived as an opener in the Big Bash League, including hitting a blistering 121* off 64 balls for the Sydney Sixers in January.
Despite 151 ODI innings, Smith has never opened in the format. The move would also reflect concerns about the current form of young opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, who averages just 14 from seven ODI innings since debuting in February 2024. His best knock&mdash;41 off 18 balls&mdash;came against the West Indies, but consistency has eluded him.
&ldquo;Yeah, he is making it harder and harder (for selectors to stick with Fraser-McGurk),&rdquo; Ponting admitted. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s just so much talent there, but we haven&rsquo;t seen it consistently enough just yet. And that&rsquo;s one of the big calls they&rsquo;ll have to make now.&rdquo;
Ponting believes Smith&rsquo;s class and recent white-ball form could provide Australia with stability at the top.
&ldquo;(Smith) could be someone who could be an anchor through this Champions Trophy at the top of the order. And you know that with the form that he&rsquo;s in, he&rsquo;s going to make big runs,&rdquo; Ponting added.
However, he also acknowledged the upside of Fraser-McGurk&rsquo;s aggressive stroke play. &ldquo;Jake is the sort of player that, if he plays at his best&hellip; he could win a tournament (for Australia).
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Australia’s campaign begins on February 22 in Lahore vs England, followed by matches against South Africa (February 25) and Afghanistan (February 28) in Lahore

ICC Hall of Famer and former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has thrown his support behind Steve Smith opening the batting during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, believing the experienced right-hander could anchor the innings at the top of the order. Australia’s campaign begins on February 22 in Lahore against arch-rivals England, followed by matches against South Africa (February 25) in Rawalpindi and Afghanistan (February 28) back in Lahore. Ponting, speaking on The ICC Review, addressed Australia’s mounting injury concerns. Regular captain Pat Cummins, fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, all-rounders Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh, and even recently retired Marcus Stoinis (from ODIs) will miss the tournament, forcing selectors to make some bold calls. Also Read: Champions Trophy, PAK vs NZ: Jolt for Pakistan as batter Fakhar Zaman suffers injury scare While Travis Head appears locked in for a top-order spot, Ponting speculated that moving Smith up from his usual No. 4 position could be on the cards. Smith has thrived as an opener in the Big Bash League, including hitting a blistering 121* off 64 balls for the Sydney Sixers in January. Despite 151 ODI innings, Smith has never opened in the format. The move would also reflect concerns about the current form of young opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, who averages just 14 from seven ODI innings since debuting in February 2024. His best knock—41 off 18 balls—came against the West Indies, but consistency has eluded him. “Yeah, he is making it harder and harder (for selectors to stick with Fraser-McGurk),” Ponting admitted. “There’s just so much talent there, but we haven’t seen it consistently enough just yet. And that’s one of the big calls they’ll have to make now.” Ponting believes Smith’s class and recent white-ball form could provide Australia with stability at the top. “(Smith) could be someone who could be an anchor through this Champions Trophy at the top of the order. And you know that with the form that he’s in, he’s going to make big runs,” Ponting added. However, he also acknowledged the upside of Fraser-McGurk’s aggressive stroke play. “Jake is the sort of player that, if he plays at his best… he could win a tournament (for Australia). (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy 2025 | Australia’s opening dilemma: Ponting backs captain Smith to step up

Former Australian cricket captain and ICC Hall of Famer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting">Ricky Ponting</a> has endorsed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/arshdeep-singh">Arshdeep Singh</a> as the ideal replacement for injured Jasprit Bumrah in India&rsquo;s pace attack for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
India's preparations for the tournament took a significant hit when star pacer Bumrah was ruled out due to a back injury earlier this month. With their opening match against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20, India have limited time to finalise their bowling combination.
While young seamer Harshit Rana impressed during India's recent ODI series against England, Ponting believes Arshdeep&rsquo;s experience and skill set in T20 cricket make him the best candidate to partner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mohammed-shami">Mohammed Shami</a> with the new ball.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-babar-azam-eyes-pakistan-glory-on-home-soil-8733626">Champions Trophy 2025: Babar Azam eyes Pakistan glory on home soil</a>
"I would go with the left-armer and I'd go with Arshdeep (to replace Bumrah)," Ponting was quoted saying on The ICC Review.
"We know how good he's been in T20 cricket. If you think about the skill set, he probably provides a similar skill set to what Bumrah does with the new ball and death overs, and that's what India will miss.&rdquo;
Ponting acknowledged Harshit Rana's promise but highlighted Arshdeep&rsquo;s superior ability at the death.
"That's taking nothing away from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/harshit-rana">Harshit Rana</a> because I think he has a lot of talent and we know what he can do with the new ball. But I don't think his death skills are as good as what Arshdeep Singh&rsquo;s are," Ponting remarked.
The former Australian skipper emphasised the importance of having a left-arm bowler who can swing the new ball, especially against right-handed top orders in big tournaments.
Ponting also noted the depth in India&rsquo;s 15-player squad, suggesting that Hardik Pandya&rsquo;s all-round abilities could ease the pressure on Shami, while spinner Varun Chakravarthy might have a significant impact on the Champions Trophy.
&ldquo;I think (Varun) Chakravarthy can have a huge impact on the tournament as well for India. He&rsquo;s probably pretty much through his career been pigeonholed as a T20 bowler only, but with his variations and skill, he can be a game-changer," Ponting added.
<h2>'India a formidable contender even sans Bumrah'</h2>
Despite Bumrah's absence, Ponting believes India remain a formidable contender. &ldquo;Even with Bumrah not being there, yes, it's very hard to replace someone like that. But if any team can do it with the amount of talent that the Indians have got, it might be them,&rdquo; he said.
India&rsquo;s recent ODI series win over England also provided positive signs, with multiple batters finding form. Shubman Gill emerged as the top scorer, Shreyas Iyer anchored the middle order, and senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were among the runs.
"It&rsquo;s great to see Shreyas Iyer back in the team and playing well in the middle order. More importantly for India, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were back scoring runs and that's what they need going into big tournaments," Ponting observed.
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of momentum:&nbsp;&ldquo;Winning's a habit and to have that behind you, you can take some positives out of that. That confidence can carry over.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: India's preparations for the tournament took a significant hit when star pacer Bumrah was ruled out due to a back injury earlier this month

Former Australian cricket captain and ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting has endorsed Arshdeep Singh as the ideal replacement for injured Jasprit Bumrah in India’s pace attack for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. India's preparations for the tournament took a significant hit when star pacer Bumrah was ruled out due to a back injury earlier this month. With their opening match against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20, India have limited time to finalise their bowling combination. While young seamer Harshit Rana impressed during India's recent ODI series against England, Ponting believes Arshdeep’s experience and skill set in T20 cricket make him the best candidate to partner Mohammed Shami with the new ball. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Babar Azam eyes Pakistan glory on home soil "I would go with the left-armer and I'd go with Arshdeep (to replace Bumrah)," Ponting was quoted saying on The ICC Review. "We know how good he's been in T20 cricket. If you think about the skill set, he probably provides a similar skill set to what Bumrah does with the new ball and death overs, and that's what India will miss.” Ponting acknowledged Harshit Rana's promise but highlighted Arshdeep’s superior ability at the death. "That's taking nothing away from Harshit Rana because I think he has a lot of talent and we know what he can do with the new ball. But I don't think his death skills are as good as what Arshdeep Singh’s are," Ponting remarked. The former Australian skipper emphasised the importance of having a left-arm bowler who can swing the new ball, especially against right-handed top orders in big tournaments. Ponting also noted the depth in India’s 15-player squad, suggesting that Hardik Pandya’s all-round abilities could ease the pressure on Shami, while spinner Varun Chakravarthy might have a significant impact on the Champions Trophy. “I think (Varun) Chakravarthy can have a huge impact on the tournament as well for India. He’s probably pretty much through his career been pigeonholed as a T20 bowler only, but with his variations and skill, he can be a game-changer," Ponting added. 'India a formidable contender even sans Bumrah' Despite Bumrah's absence, Ponting believes India remain a formidable contender. “Even with Bumrah not being there, yes, it's very hard to replace someone like that. But if any team can do it with the amount of talent that the Indians have got, it might be them,” he said. India’s recent ODI series win over England also provided positive signs, with multiple batters finding form. Shubman Gill emerged as the top scorer, Shreyas Iyer anchored the middle order, and senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were among the runs. "It’s great to see Shreyas Iyer back in the team and playing well in the middle order. More importantly for India, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were back scoring runs and that's what they need going into big tournaments," Ponting observed. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of momentum: “Winning's a habit and to have that behind you, you can take some positives out of that. That confidence can carry over.” (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy 2025: Not Harshit, former Australia captain says THIS bowler will be crucial for India

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/punjab-kings">Punjab Kings</a>&rsquo; new addition and blazing young batter Priyansh Arya is all set for the upcoming edition of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL). Arya, who has been playing cricket since the age of 9, was picked by the Kings in the 2025 mega auction and will be playing his first-ever IPL season. &nbsp; &ldquo;I am really excited to meet head coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting">Ricky Ponting</a>. I love his pull shot. Apart from that, I am also excited to meet Shreyas. I love his attitude and the way he walks. I have never met Shreyas earlier. I think he is a great leader, he has won IPL and all domestic trophies as a captain. So I feel he is the best leader," the 24-year-old said.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-first-set-of-indian-players-support-staff-leave-for-dubai-8723558">Champions Trophy 2025: First set of Indian players, support staff leave for Dubai</a> Arya took the nation by storm when he hit six sixes in an over, in Delhi&rsquo;s domestic T20 league in August 2024, becoming the fourth Indian cricketer to do so. Recalling the moment, he revealed that a special message came for him, after he achieved the feat, from India&rsquo;s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav.
<h2>'SKY told me to believe in myself'&nbsp;</h2>
&ldquo;After three sixes, I believed that I could hit six sixes as well, as my partner Ayush Badoni was hitting four to five sixes in an over, in every match. After I did so, Suryakumar Yadav messaged me and said that my batting was total entertainment and asked me to keep believing in myself. It was quite motivating for me.&rdquo; Ahead of IPL season 17, Arya was up for auction but was not grabbed by any franchise. But he did not let the setback deter him and he continued to work hard on his game. &nbsp; Recalling his emotions before last season's IPL, the 24-year-old opening batter, said, "I felt bad about not being selected. This year, again, I had a lot of expectations from the auctions but I was not thinking about it and was focused on Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 matches."
"After I was picked by Punjab Kings, I was elated but could not celebrate much as I continued to focus on the tournaments. I will surely celebrate soon," Arya said. &nbsp; Coached by World Cup-winning captain Ricky Ponting and led by the talented Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer, Punjab Kings will enter IPL 2025 in an all-new avatar and begin their title quest.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Arya took the nation by storm when he hit six sixes in an over, in Delhi’s domestic T20 league in August 2024, becoming the fourth Indian cricketer to do so

Punjab Kings’ new addition and blazing young batter Priyansh Arya is all set for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Arya, who has been playing cricket since the age of 9, was picked by the Kings in the 2025 mega auction and will be playing his first-ever IPL season. “I am really excited to meet head coach Ricky Ponting. I love his pull shot. Apart from that, I am also excited to meet Shreyas. I love his attitude and the way he walks. I have never met Shreyas earlier. I think he is a great leader, he has won IPL and all domestic trophies as a captain. So I feel he is the best leader," the 24-year-old said. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: First set of Indian players, support staff leave for Dubai Arya took the nation by storm when he hit six sixes in an over, in Delhi’s domestic T20 league in August 2024, becoming the fourth Indian cricketer to do so. Recalling the moment, he revealed that a special message came for him, after he achieved the feat, from India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav. 'SKY told me to believe in myself' “After three sixes, I believed that I could hit six sixes as well, as my partner Ayush Badoni was hitting four to five sixes in an over, in every match. After I did so, Suryakumar Yadav messaged me and said that my batting was total entertainment and asked me to keep believing in myself. It was quite motivating for me.” Ahead of IPL season 17, Arya was up for auction but was not grabbed by any franchise. But he did not let the setback deter him and he continued to work hard on his game. Recalling his emotions before last season's IPL, the 24-year-old opening batter, said, "I felt bad about not being selected. This year, again, I had a lot of expectations from the auctions but I was not thinking about it and was focused on Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 matches." "After I was picked by Punjab Kings, I was elated but could not celebrate much as I continued to focus on the tournaments. I will surely celebrate soon," Arya said. Coached by World Cup-winning captain Ricky Ponting and led by the talented Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer, Punjab Kings will enter IPL 2025 in an all-new avatar and begin their title quest. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: 'I love his attitude', Priyansh Arya excited to play under Shreyas Iyer

Former Australian captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting">Ricky Ponting</a> has emphasised the impact of Saim Ayub&rsquo;s absence from Pakistan&rsquo;s squad for the 2025 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a>.&nbsp;The young batter has been ruled out due to injury, posing a challenge for the defending champions as they prepare for the marquee tournament.
The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pakistan-cricket-board">Pakistan Cricket Board</a> (PCB) confirmed Ayub&rsquo;s injury setback, leaving a significant gap in the team&rsquo;s batting lineup. However, there remains a possibility that he could recover in time for Pakistan&rsquo;s white-ball tour of New Zealand in March 2025.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-india-will-need-both-rohit-and-virat-to-fire-to-win-says-sls-1996-wc-winner-8707994">Champions Trophy 2025: India will need both Rohit and Virat to fire to win', says SL's 1996 WC winner</a> Speaking on The ICC Review, Ponting described Ayub as a "high-quality player" and acknowledged the difficulties Pakistan will face without him. He also praised Pakistan&rsquo;s formidable fast bowling unit, led by Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, for their recent performances.
&ldquo;Saim Ayub is a high-quality player, and his absence is a massive gap to fill,&rdquo; Ponting noted. &ldquo;But Pakistan&rsquo;s fast bowling brigade is very, very good. Led by Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, they have the pace and skill to trouble any batting lineup.&rdquo;
<h2>'With Babar &amp; Rizwan, Pak can be incredibly dangerous'&nbsp;</h2>
Ponting also highlighted the importance of experienced players <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/babar-azam">Babar Azam</a> and Mohammad Rizwan stepping up in the tournament, stating that Pakistan becomes "incredibly dangerous" when they are at their best.
"Babar has been a bit up and down in recent years, but if he and Rizwan can bring their A-games, that&rsquo;s when Pakistan becomes incredibly dangerous," he said.
Discussing Pakistan&rsquo;s home advantage, Ponting noted that playing in front of a passionate crowd could serve as both motivation and pressure.
"The pressure of playing at home can work both ways. It can be a real motivator, especially with the home crowd behind you. That support can sometimes help you cross the line in big moments," he added. "They still have enough high-quality players to beat any team on any given day. If they play well, they&rsquo;ll be right in it."
Pakistan will begin their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against New Zealand in the curtain-raiser at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on February 19. Their much-anticipated clash with archrivals India is scheduled for February 23 in Dubai, followed by their final group-stage fixture against Bangladesh on February 27 in Rawalpindi.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports:  The young batter has been ruled out due to injury, posing a challenge for the defending champions as they prepare for the marquee tournament

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has emphasised the impact of Saim Ayub’s absence from Pakistan’s squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy. The young batter has been ruled out due to injury, posing a challenge for the defending champions as they prepare for the marquee tournament. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed Ayub’s injury setback, leaving a significant gap in the team’s batting lineup. However, there remains a possibility that he could recover in time for Pakistan’s white-ball tour of New Zealand in March 2025. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: India will need both Rohit and Virat to fire to win', says SL's 1996 WC winner Speaking on The ICC Review, Ponting described Ayub as a "high-quality player" and acknowledged the difficulties Pakistan will face without him. He also praised Pakistan’s formidable fast bowling unit, led by Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, for their recent performances. “Saim Ayub is a high-quality player, and his absence is a massive gap to fill,” Ponting noted. “But Pakistan’s fast bowling brigade is very, very good. Led by Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, they have the pace and skill to trouble any batting lineup.” 'With Babar & Rizwan, Pak can be incredibly dangerous' Ponting also highlighted the importance of experienced players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan stepping up in the tournament, stating that Pakistan becomes "incredibly dangerous" when they are at their best. "Babar has been a bit up and down in recent years, but if he and Rizwan can bring their A-games, that’s when Pakistan becomes incredibly dangerous," he said. Discussing Pakistan’s home advantage, Ponting noted that playing in front of a passionate crowd could serve as both motivation and pressure. "The pressure of playing at home can work both ways. It can be a real motivator, especially with the home crowd behind you. That support can sometimes help you cross the line in big moments," he added. "They still have enough high-quality players to beat any team on any given day. If they play well, they’ll be right in it." Pakistan will begin their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against New Zealand in the curtain-raiser at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on February 19. Their much-anticipated clash with archrivals India is scheduled for February 23 in Dubai, followed by their final group-stage fixture against Bangladesh on February 27 in Rawalpindi. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy 2025: Ponting highlights Saim Ayub’s absence as key factor for Pakistan

Former World Cup winners <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ravi-shastri" rel="dofollow">Ravi Shastri</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting" rel="dofollow">Ricky Ponting</a> have warned all participating teams against discounting Pakistan in the upcoming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">ICC Champions Trophy 2025</a> starting February 19. While Shastri has backed the hosts to go deep into the tournament, expecting them to qualify for the semis, Ponting feels their pace attack, backed with several match winners in the batting line-up, can come in handy for them in the first showpiece event of the year.
Pakistan named their final 15-man squad for the eight-team tournament, with gloveman Mohammad Rizwan leading the side. Shaheen Afridi will spearhead the pace attack, with the seasoned duo of Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf also picked. While the selectors picked out-of-contract batter Fakhar Zaman in injured opener Saim Ayub's absence, Pakistan would pin hopes on star batter Babar Azam to find the Midas touch in the home tournament.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/england-register-unwanted-record-after-cuttack-odi-loss-becomes-team-with-most-8706467" rel="dofollow">England register unwanted record after Cuttack ODI loss, becomes team with most...</a>
Speaking highly of Pakistan, knowing the gravity of the damage they can do on their day, Shastri said, "There&rsquo;s always pressure when you play at home in the subcontinent &ndash; whether it&rsquo;s India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, or Pakistan &ndash; the expectations are massive.
&ldquo;But, I think Pakistan are the kind of side that, with the exposure they&rsquo;ve had in the last six to eight months in white-ball cricket, have put up some really strong performances, especially in South Africa.&nbsp;They've missed Ayub at the top, and he&rsquo;s a crucial player."&nbsp;
"But Pakistan have enough depth to be dangerous, especially in home conditions. I would say they should qualify for the semi-finals, and from there, it&rsquo;s anyone&rsquo;s game.&nbsp;Pakistan are still very, very dangerous, and if they qualify, they&rsquo;ll be doubly more dangerous," Shastri said in a conversation on The ICC Review.
<h2>Ponting echoes same words</h2>
Having played and won (2006 and 2009) a few editions of the ICC Champions Trophy during his time, Ponting expressed the same feelings over what to expect out of Pakistan in this multi-team tournament.
"I agree with Ravi. Saim Ayub is a high-quality player, and his absence is a massive gap to fill. But Pakistan&rsquo;s fast bowling brigade is very, very good. Led by Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, who&rsquo;ve been terrific in recent series, they have the pace and skill to trouble any batting line-up,&rdquo; Ponting said in a chat with The ICC Review.&nbsp;
"Babar has been a bit up and down in recent years, but if he and Rizwan can bring their A-games, that&rsquo;s when Pakistan becomes incredibly dangerous," Ponting continued.
Meanwhile, Ponting also said that the pressure of playing at home can work both ways, motivating one to cross the line in big games or putting the hosts under pressure. &nbsp;
"The pressure of playing at home can work both ways. It can be a real motivator, especially with the home crowd behind you. That support can sometimes help you cross the line in big moments."&nbsp;
"They&rsquo;ve still got enough high-quality players to beat any team on any given day," he said. "If they play well, they&rsquo;ll be right in it,&rdquo; he concluded.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: While Shastri backs the hosts to go deep into the tournament, Ponting feels their pace attack can come in handy for them in the first showpiece event of the year.

Former World Cup winners Ravi Shastri and Ricky Ponting have warned all participating teams against discounting Pakistan in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 starting February 19. While Shastri has backed the hosts to go deep into the tournament, expecting them to qualify for the semis, Ponting feels their pace attack, backed with several match winners in the batting line-up, can come in handy for them in the first showpiece event of the year. Pakistan named their final 15-man squad for the eight-team tournament, with gloveman Mohammad Rizwan leading the side. Shaheen Afridi will spearhead the pace attack, with the seasoned duo of Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf also picked. While the selectors picked out-of-contract batter Fakhar Zaman in injured opener Saim Ayub's absence, Pakistan would pin hopes on star batter Babar Azam to find the Midas touch in the home tournament. Also read | England register unwanted record after Cuttack ODI loss, becomes team with most... Speaking highly of Pakistan, knowing the gravity of the damage they can do on their day, Shastri said, "There’s always pressure when you play at home in the subcontinent – whether it’s India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, or Pakistan – the expectations are massive. “But, I think Pakistan are the kind of side that, with the exposure they’ve had in the last six to eight months in white-ball cricket, have put up some really strong performances, especially in South Africa. They've missed Ayub at the top, and he’s a crucial player." "But Pakistan have enough depth to be dangerous, especially in home conditions. I would say they should qualify for the semi-finals, and from there, it’s anyone’s game. Pakistan are still very, very dangerous, and if they qualify, they’ll be doubly more dangerous," Shastri said in a conversation on The ICC Review. Ponting echoes same words Having played and won (2006 and 2009) a few editions of the ICC Champions Trophy during his time, Ponting expressed the same feelings over what to expect out of Pakistan in this multi-team tournament. "I agree with Ravi. Saim Ayub is a high-quality player, and his absence is a massive gap to fill. But Pakistan’s fast bowling brigade is very, very good. Led by Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, who’ve been terrific in recent series, they have the pace and skill to trouble any batting line-up,” Ponting said in a chat with The ICC Review. "Babar has been a bit up and down in recent years, but if he and Rizwan can bring their A-games, that’s when Pakistan becomes incredibly dangerous," Ponting continued. Meanwhile, Ponting also said that the pressure of playing at home can work both ways, motivating one to cross the line in big games or putting the hosts under pressure. "The pressure of playing at home can work both ways. It can be a real motivator, especially with the home crowd behind you. That support can sometimes help you cross the line in big moments." "They’ve still got enough high-quality players to beat any team on any given day," he said. "If they play well, they’ll be right in it,” he concluded. (With inputs from agencies)

Shastri, Ponting warn teams against discounting Pakistan in Champions Trophy

Former Australian captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting">Ricky Ponting</a> has shared his thoughts on the intense rivalry between India and Pakistan ahead of the ICC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> 2025. He believes the matches between these two cricketing giants hold a special significance, making them among the most anticipated contests in the sport.
Ponting, who has played in multiple high-pressure encounters, emphasised that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/india-pakistan">India-Pakistan</a> clashes have an extra edge due to the historical and emotional backdrop associated with them. "There's always something more to these games. The history between the two nations and their passionate fan bases add a different level of excitement and pressure," Ponting stated.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-eng-1st-odi-india-should-start-with-rahul-ahead-of-pant-says-bangar-8694037">IND vs ENG 1st ODI: India should start with Rahul ahead of Pant, says Bangar</a>
The highly awaited Champions Trophy 2025, set to be hosted in Pakistan, will once again bring the two teams face-to-face. This marks India's return to Pakistan for an ICC event after several years, making the match even more significant. Cricketing ties between the two nations have largely been limited to ICC tournaments due to political tensions, making every contest a rare and electrifying affair.
<h2>'Stakes are incredibly high'</h2>
Ponting highlighted the intensity of the rivalry, drawing comparisons with the Ashes series between Australia and England. "I've been a part of some of the biggest rivalries in cricket, but the India-Pakistan contests are on another level. The stakes are incredibly high, and the pressure on players is immense," he said.
India and Pakistan last met in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where India secured a dominant victory. However, Pakistan will be eager to turn the tide on home soil in the upcoming tournament. Ponting believes both teams have world-class talent, and the match will be a test of skill, temperament, and composure.
As the countdown to the Champions Trophy 2025 begins, cricket fans around the world are eagerly awaiting another thrilling chapter in one of the sport&rsquo;s greatest rivalries. Ponting&rsquo;s insights further fuel the anticipation, setting the stage for what promises to be a high-voltage encounter.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Ponting believes the matches between these two cricketing giants hold a special significance, making them among the most anticipated contests in the sport

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has shared his thoughts on the intense rivalry between India and Pakistan ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He believes the matches between these two cricketing giants hold a special significance, making them among the most anticipated contests in the sport. Ponting, who has played in multiple high-pressure encounters, emphasised that India-Pakistan clashes have an extra edge due to the historical and emotional backdrop associated with them. "There's always something more to these games. The history between the two nations and their passionate fan bases add a different level of excitement and pressure," Ponting stated. Also Read: IND vs ENG 1st ODI: India should start with Rahul ahead of Pant, says Bangar The highly awaited Champions Trophy 2025, set to be hosted in Pakistan, will once again bring the two teams face-to-face. This marks India's return to Pakistan for an ICC event after several years, making the match even more significant. Cricketing ties between the two nations have largely been limited to ICC tournaments due to political tensions, making every contest a rare and electrifying affair. 'Stakes are incredibly high' Ponting highlighted the intensity of the rivalry, drawing comparisons with the Ashes series between Australia and England. "I've been a part of some of the biggest rivalries in cricket, but the India-Pakistan contests are on another level. The stakes are incredibly high, and the pressure on players is immense," he said. India and Pakistan last met in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where India secured a dominant victory. However, Pakistan will be eager to turn the tide on home soil in the upcoming tournament. Ponting believes both teams have world-class talent, and the match will be a test of skill, temperament, and composure. As the countdown to the Champions Trophy 2025 begins, cricket fans around the world are eagerly awaiting another thrilling chapter in one of the sport’s greatest rivalries. Ponting’s insights further fuel the anticipation, setting the stage for what promises to be a high-voltage encounter. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy 2025: 'There's more edge to these games,' feels Ricky Ponting on India-Pakistan rivalry

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Australian batter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/steve-smith">Steve Smith</a> on Wednesday (Jan 29) joined the elite 10,000-run club in Test cricket during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Smith became the fourth Australian and 15th player overall to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket. Smith was dismissed at 9,999 runs in the SCG Test against India.&nbsp;
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Steve Smith is the third fastest to reach the landmark in terms of innings played. The record is held by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/brian-lara">Brian Lara</a>, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sachin-tendulkar">Sachin Tendulkar</a>, and Kumar Sangakkara, who reached the landmark in 195 innings. Former Australia captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting">Ricky Ponting</a> scored 10,000 runs in 196 innings, while Smith accomplished the feat in his 205 innings.
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Smith is only the sixth player to reach the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket while leading a team. Notably, Smith was named Australia captain for the Sri Lanka tour after Pat Cummins pulled out of the series. The other players who reached the landmark as captains of the team are Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, and Alastair Cook.&nbsp;
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Meanwhile, Australia find themselves on top in the first Test at Galle. Electing to bat, Australia came out all guns blazing and left Sri Lanka reeling. The move to promote Travis Head at the top worked wonders as the destructive southpaw slammed a fiery fifty. He was dismissed for 57 in 40 balls. Marnus Labuschagne did not get going and was dismissed for 20, however, Usman Khawaja held one end to take Australia to 145-2 at Llunchon Day 1. Australia have not won a series in Sri Lanka in 14 years.&nbsp;
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<h2 class="Paragraph SCXW151166777 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="464998651" paraeid="{032b6d9b-798d-4c25-8bf5-39cdca9991d3}{97}">&lsquo;Nice to tick that off': Smith after 10,000 Test runs milestone&nbsp;</h2>
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After becoming only the fourth Australian to cross the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket on day one of the Galle Test against Sri Lanka, Steve Smith felt &ldquo;nice to tick that off&rdquo; with a flick wide of mid-on off Prabath Jayasuriya.&nbsp;
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&ldquo;Nice to tick that off,&rdquo; Smith told official broadcaster Channel Seven at the stroke of lunch.&nbsp;
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Allan Border, one of the players Smith now shares this milestone with, praised his determination and unique style. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s not the bloke where you say to your son &lsquo;here&rsquo;s a technique you&rsquo;ve got to follow,&rsquo; but it&rsquo;s worked for him, and that&rsquo;s a good sign that you know your game. He&rsquo;s done it so well. There&rsquo;s prettier players, but not many who&rsquo;ve got that record,&rdquo; Border was quoted by The Sydney Morning Herald. 
Border went on to compare Smith to the greats of the game, saying, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a huge fan of (Sachin) Tendulkar and (Brian) Lara &ndash; they were phenomenally good cricketers, but Steve is definitely up with that lot, for sure.&rdquo;&nbsp;
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Smith has compiled his runs at an average of over 55, with Kumar Sangakkara the only batter beyond the 10,000 figure with a better return (57.40). Among active players, only Joe Root's tally of 12,972 Test runs is higher than Smith's.&nbsp;
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The right-hander came to bat at 137/2 in the opening session and hit a single to mid-on off Prabath Jayasuriya, earning applause from the crowd, before sharing a hug with his batting partner, Usman Khawaja.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)
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Cricket Sports: Smith became the fourth Australian and 15th player overall to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket. He is the third fastest to reach the landmark in terms of innings played

Australian batter Steve Smith on Wednesday (Jan 29) joined the elite 10,000-run club in Test cricket during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Smith became the fourth Australian and 15th player overall to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket. Smith was dismissed at 9,999 runs in the SCG Test against India. Steve Smith is the third fastest to reach the landmark in terms of innings played. The record is held by Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, and Kumar Sangakkara, who reached the landmark in 195 innings. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting scored 10,000 runs in 196 innings, while Smith accomplished the feat in his 205 innings. Smith is only the sixth player to reach the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket while leading a team. Notably, Smith was named Australia captain for the Sri Lanka tour after Pat Cummins pulled out of the series. The other players who reached the landmark as captains of the team are Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, and Alastair Cook. Meanwhile, Australia find themselves on top in the first Test at Galle. Electing to bat, Australia came out all guns blazing and left Sri Lanka reeling. The move to promote Travis Head at the top worked wonders as the destructive southpaw slammed a fiery fifty. He was dismissed for 57 in 40 balls. Marnus Labuschagne did not get going and was dismissed for 20, however, Usman Khawaja held one end to take Australia to 145-2 at Llunchon Day 1. Australia have not won a series in Sri Lanka in 14 years. ‘Nice to tick that off': Smith after 10,000 Test runs milestone After becoming only the fourth Australian to cross the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket on day one of the Galle Test against Sri Lanka, Steve Smith felt “nice to tick that off” with a flick wide of mid-on off Prabath Jayasuriya. “Nice to tick that off,” Smith told official broadcaster Channel Seven at the stroke of lunch. Allan Border, one of the players Smith now shares this milestone with, praised his determination and unique style. “He’s not the bloke where you say to your son ‘here’s a technique you’ve got to follow,’ but it’s worked for him, and that’s a good sign that you know your game. He’s done it so well. There’s prettier players, but not many who’ve got that record,” Border was quoted by The Sydney Morning Herald. Border went on to compare Smith to the greats of the game, saying, “I’m a huge fan of (Sachin) Tendulkar and (Brian) Lara – they were phenomenally good cricketers, but Steve is definitely up with that lot, for sure.” Smith has compiled his runs at an average of over 55, with Kumar Sangakkara the only batter beyond the 10,000 figure with a better return (57.40). Among active players, only Joe Root's tally of 12,972 Test runs is higher than Smith's. The right-hander came to bat at 137/2 in the opening session and hit a single to mid-on off Prabath Jayasuriya, earning applause from the crowd, before sharing a hug with his batting partner, Usman Khawaja. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia’s Steve Smith joins 10,000 Test runs club

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting opened up on the popularity of the two highly-followed series, i.e. the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) and Ashes. The just-concluded India-Australia series saw record attendance for all five Tests. The numbers were so good that it shattered records to become the most attended non-Ashes series in the history of Australian cricket. As many as 8,37,879 people attended the 2024-25 BGT edition, which saw Pat Cummins-led Aussies beat India 3-1 and regain the trophy for the first time since the win in the 2014-15 edition. Punter opined on the popularity of BGT and compared it with Ashes.
<h2>'If the Ashes numbers aren't the same, then there'll be no doubt that.....'</h2>
Ponting told the ICC Review, "I had a look at the numbers yesterday, it was something like 837,000 people came to watch the Test matches, which is unheard of here in Australia.&nbsp;So now that this series has happened, Australia have England coming out next summer so we'll get a better idea then. If the numbers aren't the same, then there'll be no doubt that the (Border-Gavaskar) rivalry (is bigger), certainly from the fans&rsquo; point of view."
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Punter further opined, "There's two separate parts to this: There's what the fans want to see and the rivalry that they want to make of it, but it's also how the players view the rivalry between the three teams now."
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/shubman-gill-is-highly-overrated-india-should-pick-ruturaj-gaikwad-or-sai-sudharsan-claims-1983-world-cup-winner-8597894" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Gill is highly overrated, India should pick Gaikwad or Sudharsan, claims 1983 World Cup winner</a>
Highlighting that most of the games in the India-Australia series didn't even last all five days, Ponting added, "Perth only went four days, Adelaide only went three days, Sydney only went three days. Those numbers would have been astronomical if those Test matches all went five days. So exactly this time next year, we'll have a great idea of the biggest rivalry in world cricket."
England are scheduled to tour Australia during the Australian summer, later this year, for Ashes 2025. The five-match series will surely give a clear picture of whether the BGT has surpassed the popularity of the Ashes.

Cricket, Sports | 'If the numbers....': Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on whether Border-Gavaskar Trophy has surpassed Ashes popularity

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting opened up on the popularity of the two highly-followed series, i.e. the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) and Ashes. The just-concluded India-Australia series saw record attendance for all five Tests. The numbers were so good that it shattered records to become the most attended non-Ashes series in the history of Australian cricket. As many as 8,37,879 people attended the 2024-25 BGT edition, which saw Pat Cummins-led Aussies beat India 3-1 and regain the trophy for the first time since the win in the 2014-15 edition. Punter opined on the popularity of BGT and compared it with Ashes. 'If the Ashes numbers aren't the same, then there'll be no doubt that.....' Ponting told the ICC Review, "I had a look at the numbers yesterday, it was something like 837,000 people came to watch the Test matches, which is unheard of here in Australia. So now that this series has happened, Australia have England coming out next summer so we'll get a better idea then. If the numbers aren't the same, then there'll be no doubt that the (Border-Gavaskar) rivalry (is bigger), certainly from the fans’ point of view." Punter further opined, "There's two separate parts to this: There's what the fans want to see and the rivalry that they want to make of it, but it's also how the players view the rivalry between the three teams now." Also read: Gill is highly overrated, India should pick Gaikwad or Sudharsan, claims 1983 World Cup winner Highlighting that most of the games in the India-Australia series didn't even last all five days, Ponting added, "Perth only went four days, Adelaide only went three days, Sydney only went three days. Those numbers would have been astronomical if those Test matches all went five days. So exactly this time next year, we'll have a great idea of the biggest rivalry in world cricket." England are scheduled to tour Australia during the Australian summer, later this year, for Ashes 2025. The five-match series will surely give a clear picture of whether the BGT has surpassed the popularity of the Ashes.

'If the numbers....': Ponting on whether Border-Gavaskar Trophy has surpassed Ashes popularity

Melbourne: The ICC fined Virat Kohli 20 per cent of his match fees for deliberately shouldering Australian teenager Sam Konstas on day one of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting feels it was not harsh enough. Calling out the instance from the commentary box, Ponting expressed disappointment ahead of day two with how Kohli got away with a minute punishment, claiming 'it's different for some people'.
"Personally, I do not think it [the punishment] was harsh enough. I know there are precedents [where similar infringements have incurred similar-sized penalties] - they have generally been between a 15 and 25 per cent fine, but let us have a think about the enormity of yesterday,&rdquo; Ponting said while speaking on 7 Cricket ahead of day two.
After Australia elected to bat first at the MCG, Konstas, who had replaced McSweeney and was making his Test debut, smoked Indian ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah for 18 runs in his fourth over, including hitting him a six off a reverse scoop.
His stroke play impressed everyone except Virat, who bumped into Konstas after the end of the 10th over, leading to a confrontation.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m569tq1f-v5emyo6q-9f5kt5d6">
Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas exchanged a heated moment on the MCG. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/QL13nZ9IGI">pic.twitter.com/QL13nZ9IGI</a>
&mdash; cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketcomau/status/1872076770788212737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
Usman Khawaja and the on-field umpires had to intervene to separate them, with the crowd and social media buzzing over the incident.&nbsp;
Cricket Australia reported first that the ICC would look into the matter following the day&rsquo;s play, and they did, finding Kohli guilty of breaching their code of conduct and punishing him for the same.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/bgt-mcg-test-australia-all-out-on-474-in-first-innings-after-steve-smiths-record-34th-test-ton-8569119" rel="dofollow">BGT, MCG Test: Australia all out on 474 after Smith&rsquo;s record Test ton</a>
Kohli accepted the fine.
However, Ponting talked about its larger implications.
&ldquo;It is probably the most-watched day of cricket all year all around the world. Imagine if that happens in a grade game on the weekend now, what is going to happen there? I think people are going to think that that is almost acceptable now,&rdquo; Ponting noted.
<h2>'Punishments are different for different people'</h2>
The former Aussie captain, who during his time was also a fierce competitor, didn&rsquo;t mince his words in implying that Kohli perhaps escaped a ban, adding there are different punishments for different people.
"And, unfortunately, for someone like Virat, as we got told as players and as senior players, sometimes it is [the scale of punishment] just different for some people. He is a role model; he is somebody the cricketing world looks up to, so I, personally, do not think that the fine was harsh enough,&rdquo; he noted.
Meanwhile, Australia scored 474 in the first innings, thanks to a brilliant 140 from Steve Smith &ndash; his record 34th Test ton, second of this series, fifth at the MCG and 18th overall in Australia.&nbsp;
In reply, India lost their captain Rohit Sharma (3) and KL Rahul (24) before tea on day two.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m569vxg4-g5hljeip-64kq9nv1">
ABSOLUTE SEED FROM CUMMINS! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvIND</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DeliveredWithSpeed?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DeliveredWithSpeed</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/NBN_Australia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nbn_australia</a> <a href="https://t.co/zvzvkDyAnb">pic.twitter.com/zvzvkDyAnb</a>
&mdash; cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketcomau/status/1872497414206009414?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
(With inputs from agencies)

Calling out the instance from the commentary box earlier, Ponting expressed disappointment with how Kohli got away with a small fine

Melbourne: The ICC fined Virat Kohli 20 per cent of his match fees for deliberately shouldering Australian teenager Sam Konstas on day one of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting feels it was not harsh enough. Calling out the instance from the commentary box, Ponting expressed disappointment ahead of day two with how Kohli got away with a minute punishment, claiming 'it's different for some people'. "Personally, I do not think it [the punishment] was harsh enough. I know there are precedents [where similar infringements have incurred similar-sized penalties] - they have generally been between a 15 and 25 per cent fine, but let us have a think about the enormity of yesterday,” Ponting said while speaking on 7 Cricket ahead of day two. After Australia elected to bat first at the MCG, Konstas, who had replaced McSweeney and was making his Test debut, smoked Indian ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah for 18 runs in his fourth over, including hitting him a six off a reverse scoop. His stroke play impressed everyone except Virat, who bumped into Konstas after the end of the 10th over, leading to a confrontation. Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas exchanged a heated moment on the MCG. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/QL13nZ9IGI — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2024 Usman Khawaja and the on-field umpires had to intervene to separate them, with the crowd and social media buzzing over the incident. Cricket Australia reported first that the ICC would look into the matter following the day’s play, and they did, finding Kohli guilty of breaching their code of conduct and punishing him for the same. ALSO READ: BGT, MCG Test: Australia all out on 474 after Smith’s record Test ton Kohli accepted the fine. However, Ponting talked about its larger implications. “It is probably the most-watched day of cricket all year all around the world. Imagine if that happens in a grade game on the weekend now, what is going to happen there? I think people are going to think that that is almost acceptable now,” Ponting noted. 'Punishments are different for different people' The former Aussie captain, who during his time was also a fierce competitor, didn’t mince his words in implying that Kohli perhaps escaped a ban, adding there are different punishments for different people. "And, unfortunately, for someone like Virat, as we got told as players and as senior players, sometimes it is [the scale of punishment] just different for some people. He is a role model; he is somebody the cricketing world looks up to, so I, personally, do not think that the fine was harsh enough,” he noted. Meanwhile, Australia scored 474 in the first innings, thanks to a brilliant 140 from Steve Smith – his record 34th Test ton, second of this series, fifth at the MCG and 18th overall in Australia. In reply, India lost their captain Rohit Sharma (3) and KL Rahul (24) before tea on day two. ABSOLUTE SEED FROM CUMMINS! #AUSvIND | #DeliveredWithSpeed | @nbn_australia pic.twitter.com/zvzvkDyAnb — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2024 (With inputs from agencies)

BGT: Ponting reckons Kohli's fine for shouldering Konstas wasn't 'harsh enough'

Australia
Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting says that India batter Shubman Gill 'needs to back his defensive technique' in order to get some runs in Australia. Ponting's comments come on the back of Gill's lackluster performance in the two Tests he has played in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series.
"I love watching him play. When you're watching him bat and bat well, he looks as good as anyone in world cricket,” Ponting said in the ICC Review. “But the numbers don't really stack up, do they, away from home?”
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/bgt-kuldeep-doesnt-have-visa-and-axar-rohit-on-why-india-chose-tanush-kotian-as-ashwins-replacement-786433">'Kuldeep doesn't have visa and Axar...': Rohit on why India chose Tanush Kotian as Ashwin's replacement</a>
"I watched him a little bit in Adelaide and it almost looked like he changed things up too much,” Ponting contined.
“Scott Boland was bowling and he changed his guard, he moved across to the off stump, presented his front pad to Boland, and Boland got him out with a full straight one.
"If anything, I think he needs to back himself a little bit more, needs to back his defensive technique a little bit more here in Australia and still find a way to be able to score and score quickly," added the former Aussie skipper.
Gill has scored only 60 runs so far in three innings he has batted in, with a highest score of 31.
India's performance with the bat has been sub par on the tour with only KL Rahul being consistent among the top seven batters. Rahul, who was slotted into the opener's slot due to skipper Rohit Sharma's absence from the first Test, has scored 235 runs in six innings with two fifties to his name.
Yashasvi Jaiswal is India's second highest run-scorer with 193 runs, but most of his runs - 161 to be exact - came in one innings. 
The five-Test series currently stands equal at 1-1 after three matches with two more games to go.

Gill has scored only 60 runs so far in three innings he has batted in with a highest score of 31. India's performance with the bat has been sub par on the tour with only KL Rahul being consistent among the top seven batters.



Australia Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting says that India batter Shubman Gill 'needs to back his defensive technique' in order to get some runs in Australia. Ponting's comments come on the back of Gill's lackluster performance in the two Tests he has played in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series. "I love watching him play. When you're watching him bat and bat well, he looks as good as anyone in world cricket,” Ponting said in the ICC Review. “But the numbers don't really stack up, do they, away from home?” Also Read: 'Kuldeep doesn't have visa and Axar...': Rohit on why India chose Tanush Kotian as Ashwin's replacement "I watched him a little bit in Adelaide and it almost looked like he changed things up too much,” Ponting contined. “Scott Boland was bowling and he changed his guard, he moved across to the off stump, presented his front pad to Boland, and Boland got him out with a full straight one. "If anything, I think he needs to back himself a little bit more, needs to back his defensive technique a little bit more here in Australia and still find a way to be able to score and score quickly," added the former Aussie skipper. Gill has scored only 60 runs so far in three innings he has batted in, with a highest score of 31. India's performance with the bat has been sub par on the tour with only KL Rahul being consistent among the top seven batters. Rahul, who was slotted into the opener's slot due to skipper Rohit Sharma's absence from the first Test, has scored 235 runs in six innings with two fifties to his name. Yashasvi Jaiswal is India's second highest run-scorer with 193 runs, but most of his runs - 161 to be exact - came in one innings. The five-Test series currently stands equal at 1-1 after three matches with two more games to go.

BGT 2024-25: Ricky Ponting shares advice for Shubman Gill to score runs in Australia

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